Secure content
‘Secure content’ is the phrase we use for any document (PDF, Word etc.) or page on the website to which access is restricted. In order to access secure content you will need an Edexcel Online account. Only staff in centres that are administering or running a particular Edexcel qualification will be able to view secure content for that qualification. For example, a secure GCE Mathematics document will only be available to staff from a centre that currently offers GCE Mathematics with Edexcel.
Recognising secure content
Links to secure pages and documents have an orange diamond symbol alongside them to indicate that access is restricted. Content without the orange diamond symbol is available to everyone that visits the site.
Why we restrict access to content
For a range of educational and commercial reasons, some of the information we produce is intended solely for teachers or administrative staff at our centres. Without the help of our secure content facility, we would only be able to distribute such material through the post. By placing this information on our website as secure content, we can provide our customers with fast and convenient electronic access to the up-to-date information they need.
In the future, we may only routinely provide some content via the website, but we will monitor the uptake of secure content and conduct further research with our customers before deciding this.
Where you will find secure content
Secure content will be found primarily in the Qualifications section of the website where, in time, we will provide secure content for most subjects. We have begun by concentrating on a small group of qualifications. This initial group includes our full range of Mathematics qualifications, the GCSE English pilot qualification and the new 360 Science suite of qualifications. At present, these are the only areas of the site where you will encounter secure content.
Accessing secure content
In order to access our secure content, you will require an Edexcel Online account. If you already have an Edexcel Online account and your centre runs a particular qualification with Edexcel, you will already be able to access any secure content concerning that qualification.
During each visit to the Edexcel website, you will be asked to log in when you try to access your first item of secure content. Alternatively, you can log in from any point on the site by selecting the ‘log in’ link found in the top right-hand corner of every page.
Once logged in, you will not need to re-enter your details when you want to view further secure items during that visit to our website. After an interval of 20 minutes’ inactivity, however, your logged in status will expire and you will be prompted to log in again if you want to access secure content after that time.
Please note: even with a user account, you will only be able to access secure content for qualifications that your centre currently offers.
Obtaining a user account
If you work at a centre that offers Edexcel qualifications but don't yet have an Edexcel Online account, you should contact the Edexcel Online administrator in your centre who will create a user account for you.
Please do not contact Edexcel directly to request an account. Much of the information we provide via Edexcel Online is strictly confidential to your centre and your centre administrator must verify that you are an authorised user before you can access these services.
Requesting access to a specific qualification
Whenever you click on a link to secure content for a qualification that your centre does not run with Edexcel, you will be presented with an option to request access to that secure content.
Your centre may have recently started to offer the relevant Edexcel qualification or might be planning to take it up shortly. In these circumstances you should notify us that you need access to the relevant secure content. Enter your reasons in the box that appears on this screen and then submit your request.
An Edexcel representative may contact you or your centre before your request is approved.
Please note that this facility is only available to customers that have an Edexcel Online account.
Availability
We carry out maintenance on our systems between 22.00 and 01.00 GMT every day. During these periods we are not able to provide access to secure documents and pages. Other parts of the website remain available.
