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For general qualifications Awarding bodies must be informed about a conflict of interest before the published deadline for entries, for each examination series and for vocational qualifications Awarding bodies must be informed as soon as a registration is made, or as soon as a conflict of interest becomes apparent, of:
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any members of centre staff who are taking qualifications at their own centre which include internally assessed components/units
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any members of centre staff who are teaching and preparing members of their family (which includes step-family, foster family and similar close relationships) or close friends and their immediate family (e.g. son/daughter) for qualifications which include internally assessed components/units.
For detailed information and guidance, click to expand each section.
Submitting a conflict of interest assessment declaration to Pearson
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Where a potential conflict of interest exists, centres must declare the possible conflict of interest to Pearson, the work will be subject to moderation/verification.
Please note, when entering members of centre staff for qualifications with internally assessed components at their own centre, this must be as a last resort in cases where the member of centre staff is unable to find an alternative centre.
Full details of the regulations can be found in:
Please note that you are required to submit a declaration of interest to us only if the qualification includes internal assessed components or units.
Declarations can be submitted to us via our Centre Declaration of Interest form 2025-2026.
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Keeping internal records of potential conflicts
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Centres must also maintain clear records of all instances where:
- exams office staff have members of their family (which includes step-family, foster family and similar close relationships) or close friends and their immediate family (e.g. son/daughter) being entered for examinations and assessments either at the centre itself or other centres;
- centre staff are taking qualifications at their own centre which do not include internally assessed components/units;
- centre staff are taking qualifications at other centres.
If you have any questions regarding declarations of interest, please contact us.
We have also prepared some training to support centres who deliver Pearson qualifications, examinations or assessments to decide whether a declaration is required. Centre Declaration of Interest Exam Officer Training.
Thank you for supporting this activity to protect the integrity of our qualifications and assessments for our learners.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of qualifications require a declaration of interest to be submitted?
| Any general or vocational qualification that includes internally assessed components. |
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What does the centre need to do after they have submitted their declaration of interest?
| The centre might need to send the candidate's work in as part of the sampling process, although the centre will be advised of this through the Coursework - JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications, regular annual communications and the exams officers newsletter. |
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What details should be documented on the internal centre record?
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There is no regulatory guidance for this, however the Audit and Quality team would recommend the following:
- For a relationship between a staff member and a candidate - centre number, candidate name and number, qualification involved, relevant exam series, name of staff member involved, job role and relationship to the candidate, mitigating actions in place.
- For a staff member taking a Pearson qualification at another centre, or that does not contain an internally assessed component – centre number, staff name, role and their candidate number, qualification involved, mitigating actions in place.
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When should conflicts of interest be declared?
| According to the JCQ General Regulations for Approved Centres 2025-2026 conflicts of interest be declared before the published deadline for entries for each examination series for general qualifications, Conflict of Interest regarding vocational qualifications should generally be prior to registration. |
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How do I know if a qualification contains internally assessed components?
| Refer to the qualification specifications on the Pearson website. The 'components' sections will usually have information on how the components/units are assessed at the beginning of the description. An example can be seen here in the GCSE English Language Specification page 1, 'Qualification at a glance'. |
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Who are considered family members and close friends in the context of conflicts of interest?
| This includes immediate family, their partners, their children, stepfamilies, best friend's children, neighbour's children if there's a close relationship, colleague's children if there's a close relationship, and anything similar where the relationship is regular and interactive. |
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Does a centre staff member need to submit a declaration if they are teaching their child/family member/friend a qualification that incorporates an internal assessment but are only teaching the external components?
| Yes, even though they are not participating in the internal assessment, the declaration form still needs to be submitted. Their non-involvement in the internal assessment should be the mitigating action for the conflict. |
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Can a centre staff member take a Pearson qualification at their own centre if there is an internal assessment involved?
| Yes, it is permitted. However, they would need to submit a Declaration of Interest form. They are required to search for another centre to sit their qualification at, and if it has not been possible to find another centre, an explanation as to why needs to be added to the form and mitigating actions should be put in place. |
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Can an MFL teacher conduct the speaking element of the qualification with their child/family member/friend if they are the only teacher for that MFL in the centre?
| Yes, they can conduct the speaking element. However, they will need to submit a Declaration of Interest form and apply mitigating actions to ensure the integrity of the unit. Although this is an externally assessed component, the High-level principles for the conducting of MFL and Irish Speaking assessments state differing regulations for MFLs. |
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Does a centre staff member need to submit a declaration of interest if they are also an examiner for Pearson?
| Yes, this would be dealt with by our Associates team. |
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