Guidance for Centre staff September 2026 - Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Work-based Learning and Internal Assessment

Oct 20, 2026

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Guidance for Centre staff on understanding artificial intelligence (AI) and its proper and improper use in work-based learning and internal assessment. Covers AI applications across learning and assessment environments, the learning and assessment risks including bias, privacy concerns and threats to qualification integrity, and explains AI misuse when learners fail to acknowledge or submit work that is not their own. Includes indicators, authentication methods, VARCS, actions when AI is suspected, collaboration statements, and referencing expectations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

What is Artificial intelligence (AI)?

The learning environment

The assessment environment

What is AI misuse?

Preventing the Misuse of AI in learning and assessment

Authenticating Learner Work

VARCS

What todo if you find AI in learner evidence

Benefits of AI in work-based learning and Assessment

Statement of collaboration

Referencing

What is Artificial Intelligence? Guidance for Centre staff September 2026 Table of Content Introduction 3 What is Artificial intelligence (AI)? 5 The learning environment 6 The assessment environment 6 What is AI misuse? 7 Examples of AI misuse include, but are not limited to: 7 Preventing the Misuse of AI in learning and assessment 8 Indicators that AI may have been used in Assessment 9 Authenticating Learner Work 10 VARCS 11 What todo if you find AI in learner evidence 13 Benefits of AI in work-based learning and Assessment 14 AI misuse / malpractice in learner evidence example(s) 15 Example 15 Further examples 15 Statement of collaboration 16 Referencing 17 Introduction This guidance note is written for staff delivering work-based learning qualifications and programmes. This document is also designed to support Centre staff who are responsible for supervising, marking, or assessing non-examination internal assessments or portfolio work. This document guides Centre staff on utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI) in work-based learning and internal assessment. The guidance covers the use of AI in both the learning and assessment environments and applies to qualifications within scope of Pearson’s Work Based Learning Quality Model (WBLQA), ranging from Level 1 to Level 7. These include: • Level 1 – 7 Pearson Edexcel and Pearson NVQs and competence-based qualifications regulated by Ofqual • BTEC Apprenticeship frameworks (except the Functional Skills suite) • BTEC Security and Fire qualifications • Foundation Learning (excluding Functional Skills and legacy QCF Foundation Learning qualifications): o Personal and Social Development o BTEC WorkSkills o BTEC Entry Levels 1–3 o BTEC Introductory Level 1 o Home cooking Skills • BTEC Specialist qualifications including: o Cleaning, facilities and hospitality o Goods, warehousing, transport and logistics o Business Admin, Team Leading, Customer Service and Management o BTEC Teamwork, Personal Skills and Citizenship in Youth Organisations o Health and Social Care (including Dementia and End of Life Care) o Construction Occupations; Health and Safety in a Construction Environment; BTEC Level 1 Construction o BTEC Sports Industry Skills • On programme BTEC Specialist qualifications for Apprenticeship Standards Engineering • Technical Occupational Entry Qualifications (TOEQs) This guidance has been designed to help Centre staff ensure that all learner evidence submitted for assessments is solely the learners'work with regards to the misuse of AI technologies. As stated in the Pearson’s Approval terms and conditions it is centres' responsibility, to ensure that they are satisfied with the authenticity of learners'work before assessment. It is a requirement for centres to follow JCQ policies and procedures and have a malpractice policy in place. What is Artificial intelligence (AI)? Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is rapidly evolving, it is essential we all understand how it can be used and misused within non-examination assessments or portfolio work. Artificial intelligence as a technology can simulate human intelligence and decision-making. Using advanced algorithms, artificial intelligence substitutes and supplements processes for seeking solutions to specific problems and goals. Recent developments inAI involve neural networks, where the fundamental approach is to learn from available information and data sets. These have been applied to simulate human intelligence and/or interactions, with examples such as online digital assistants, chatbotsand generative AI such as ChatGPT. Generative AI can also be used in the generation of videos, images, and audio when it is trained on relevant information and data sets. Another way of looking atitis that generative AI mimics interactions and formats, using what it has been trained on, to generate similar content What are the risks associ

FAQs

What does the guidance require Centre staff to ensure about learner evidence?

Centre staff must ensure that learner evidence submitted for assessment is solely the learner’s own work regarding the misuse of AI technologies, and they are responsible for verifying authenticity before assessment.

What are the key risks of learners using AI in the learning environment?

Risks include over-reliance that undermines critical thinking, biases in AI algorithms that may produce incorrect or incomplete information, and privacy and security concerns related to data used to develop models.

What counts as AI misuse in internal assessment?

AI misuse occurs when a learner uses one or more AI tools without appropriately acknowledging the use and submits the work for assessment when it is not their own independent product or independent thinking.

Oct 20, 2026

Upload by acoobca