Art and Design subject update
Autumn 2026
Welcome to our autumn 2026 newsletter
Hello, I hope you've had a wonderful summer break and found time to rest, recharge and enjoy a well-deserved pause before the new academic year begins.
As we start a new year, I'm delighted to introduce myself as the new Subject Lead for Creative Arts, taking over from Sandra Allan. I'm incredibly excited to be supporting you and look forward to connecting with more Art and Design teachers and hearing about the inspiring work taking place in your classrooms and studios.
This year is particularly exciting as we're expanding our Creative Arts Subject Support team, creating more opportunities to support you through additional Curriculum Connect sessions, centre visits, subject expert events and opportunities for your feedback to help shape the resources and support we provide. Our aim is simple: to be visible, accessible and responsive throughout the year.
This autumn's update includes an important GCSE Art and Design specification update for summer 2027, guidance on AI, NEA supervision and SEND arrangements, plus details of our popular regional standardisation events. You'll also find teaching resources, professional development opportunities and support to help you start the year with confidence.
Thank you for everything you do to inspire creativity, curiosity and artistic ambition in your students. I look forward to meeting many more of you over the coming year and working together to make it an exciting and rewarding one for Art and Design.
If any members of your team would like to receive subject-specific updates, they can easily sign up for AQA subject updates , so they’re always informed and part of our community.
Best wishes
David Amos
Subject Lead - Creative Arts
Stay up to date with assessment reform
This autumn, the Department for Education (DfE) is expected to launch its subject content consultation, confirming which subjects will be included in each phase, sharing proposals for phase 1 and inviting teachers, schools and exam boards to give feedback.
There’s nothing you need to do right now. Once the consultation launches, we’ll help you understand what it means and how to have your say.
In the meantime, catch up on our subject webinars to understand what the Curriculum and Assessment Review means for your subject.
You can also join our Teacher Panel to share your views and help shape what comes next.
Help shape the future of digital assessment
We’d like to hear about your experiences of digital teaching, learning and assessment through a short survey.
By sharing your experiences, you’ll help us shape the guidance, resources and support teachers need as digital assessment continues to evolve.
The survey contains 24 questions, takes around 12 minutes to complete and closes on 1 November 2026. As a thank you, participants who complete the survey can enter a prize draw for the chance to win one of four £50 gift vouchers.
Curriculum Connect sessions
We have lots of exciting Curriculum Connects coming up, including:
- Exploring Summer 2026: Join the Creative Arts team for an overview of AQA results from the Summer 2026 exam series.
Please note that student responses and commentaries will not be covered in this session; these will be explored in more detail in our national programme events. - NEA planning: Join us for a session designed to support your planning and delivery of the NEA.
- Art and Design: Live Q&A and networking: Come along, ask your questions and connect with others.
Autumn Curriculum Connects are available to book now – come and meet your AQA Creative Arts Subject Support team and network with other teachers.
Community links
This autumn, AQA highlights some of the arts and cultural organisations it works with, showcasing the creative opportunities and support they can offer Art and Design teachers and learners. Find out more about the creative organisations AQA collaborates with and what they have to offer.
Messums
Messums Org is a platform offering a circular relationship between art and social engagement. The organisation has venues in Wiltshire, Suffolk and a central gallery space in London. It includes Messums Creative Ltd (Registered Charity No.1214246), a charitable organisation that advances creativity as a force for lifelong learning, wellbeing and connection. It aims to empower through the core pillars of Access, Learning and Excellence. This autumn, highlights include:
- East: Outreach events for schools and community groups, plus new artist studios opening in Lowestoft.
- West: Community workshops, Young Creatives sessions and outreach programmes. Exhibitions: Flood (5 September – 2 October), Significant Beings (10 October – 5 December) and events: War Paint: Women at War film screening (26 September), Skip Novak talk (30 October) and the Architecture in Extremes symposium (3 October).
- London Exhibition: Jack McGarrity (9 September – 10 October).
Explore the links above or visit the Messums website for further information about exhibitions, educational opportunities and events. Contact creative@messums.org with any questions.
Key updates
GCSE Art and Design: specification update
For learners completing their GCSEs in 2027, the requirement for further work has been removed. Read the full specification update on our website.
Get more with MyAQA
myAQA gives you access to everything you need to plan, teach and assess, including our secure extranet – Centre Services. Here you’ll find essential resources, such as the latest past papers, as well as Teacher Online Standardisation (T-OLS) and much more.
Don’t have a myAQA account yet? Complete a short form to get started. Once your Exams Officer has verified your registration, then you’re ready to go.
Festive artwork competition 2026
Calling all Art and Design teachers. Give your aspiring artists and designers the chance to respond to a real creative brief, with the opportunity to win a £200 voucher for themselves and a further £200 voucher for their Art and Design department.
In September, we’ll launch a competition that will see one student’s artwork used in AQA’s festive communications and sent to schools and colleges nationwide.
Entries open: Monday 14 September 2026.
Closing date: Friday 9 October 2026.
We’ll follow up with more information and the brief at the beginning of September. And, yes, we know it seems strange to mention anything festive right now! You can view last year’s winning artwork
Notes and guidance
To support teachers in understanding compliance and specification delivery, we share notes and guidance in a range of areas for both GCSE and A-level. Notes and guidance: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Support read alongside JCQ’s AI in assessments: protecting the integrity of qualifications document, and Non-exam assessment (NEA) supervision, access arrangements and SEND guidance
Externally set assignments (ESA)
Estimated entries for the summer 2027 exam series can be submitted via Centre Services between 1 September and 10 October 2026. If an estimate of entries has been made, hard copies of the Externally set assignment (ESA) will be sent to your school or college and will also be available to download on Centre Services from 8am on Saturday 2 January for GCSE and Monday 1 February 2027 for A-level.
Free professional development and events
We’ve developed a range of live, on-demand and eLearning professional development training courses to help you develop your knowledge and classroom confidence. Some of the sessions coming up are:
- Teacher standardisation 2026/27: Face-to-face and regional
See refreshed Art and Design learner work across all six titles and the full mark range at venues nationwide. This support helps teachers understand the standard, standardise confidently and deliver the course effectively.
Book your place. - GCSE Art and Design: Getting started
- GCSE and A-level Art and Design: Getting started
- GCSE and A-level Art and Design: Assessment objectives and guidance for applying the assessment criteria grid
- Supporting students with SEND in Art and Design (on demand)
Explore more to see the full list of what’s on offer and secure your place.
Get involved and opportunities
Become an examiner or moderator: Becoming an examiner or moderator helps you deepen your understanding of specifications and mark schemes, improve your teaching and gain flexible professional development while earning extra income.
Student Advisory Group recruitment for 2026/27
Help your learners influence the future of exams
We’re looking for learners to join our Student Advisory Group for 2026/27. The group gives young people a direct opportunity to share their experiences and views on qualifications, assessments and the wider exam system. Their insights will help shape the future of the curriculum, qualifications and assessments for young people, as well as our work to offer new vocational qualifications.
If you know any learners who may be interested, please encourage them to apply – we’re looking for students who have taken AQA qualifications, though this is not essential, and they can be sitting general or vocational qualifications.
Applications open: Monday 7 September 2026
Applications close: 5.00pm on Monday 21 September 2026
Thank you for helping us raise awareness of this opportunity among your learners. For more information about the Student Advisory Group and details on how to apply, please visit our website.
NEA advisers
For subjects with non-exam assessment, it’s likely you’ll have an NEA adviser. Advisers are experienced teachers and moderators who can provide guidance throughout the academic year on delivering NEA. Find out more about AQA NEA advisers.
Adviser contact details are available on Centre Services from mid-September, so please check back then, as their contact details may have changed from last year. If you don’t have an assigned adviser, please contact us.
Stay connected
Whatever your question, our Subject Support team is here to help.
Email: art@aqa.org.uk
Call: 01483 437 750, Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm.