Welcome to our education pages for the Department for Education
This page has been designed to make our services easy for the Department for Education to use and to provide you with useful information and help. We also want to keep you update with our latest news.
On behalf of the Department for Education, Parcelforce Worldwide provides a secure collection and delivery service for unmarked exam scripts, externally marked coursework and language CDs or memory sticks for general qualifications, externally assessed Diploma principal learning and functional skills qualifications.
Dispatch of exam scripts guide
Discover information for exams officers about using the Parcelforce Worldwide yellow label service to dispatch exam scripts for general qualifications. Here you’ll find a Yellow Label Service guide, a list of qualifications included in the service and detailed information about how to pack, label and dispatch exam scripts to ensure smooth running of the service.
Request a collection
Arrange your exams collections below or by calling the Parcelforce exams helpdesk on 0344 561 7998. You can arrange collections up to 14 days before they are required, but you must book them at least 24 hours in advance.
If you need to amend, cancel or rearrange a collection, please contact the Parcelforce exams helpdesk on 0344 561 7998. You cannot amend a collection on the online booking form and you cannot contact Parcelforce drivers directly.
Arrange a redelivery
We’ll deliver your exam scripts to the address you provided to your awarding body. If you’re not in, we’ll leave a card explaining that we called and then take the parcel back to the local Parcelforce Worldwide depot to be held securely. If we’re unable to deliver, we will keep the package safe at our depot for 16 days before returning it to the relevant Awarding Body.
We will automatically attempt to redeliver to the same address the following day, including Saturday. Please note, if a redelivery on a Saturday is required, please call us on 0344 561 7998. You can also re-arrange a delivery to a different address, authorised by you.
Useful information
Autumn series message
The 2025 November and December Exam series takes place from Tuesday 4 November to Friday 12th December. If your centre qualifies for the Department for Education's 'yellow label' exam script collection service, delivered by Parcelforce Worldwide, you will receive a communication directly advising of the following.
During this period, you will need to contact Parcelforce Worldwide to arrange your collections by either:
- going to the Parcelforce Worldwide website and selecting 'Arrange a collection', or
- calling the Parcelforce Worldwide exams helpdesk on 0344 561 7998
You can arrange ad-hoc collections up to 14 days before they are required, but they must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Should you need to amend, cancel, or rearrange a collection, please contact the Parcelforce Worldwide exams helpdesk on 0344 561 7998.
You cannot make amendments to collections through the online collections booking form. Parcelforce Worldwide drivers are also not equipped with mobile phones, so cannot be contacted to alter your collection bookings.
Yellow label script collection service
The 2025 November and December Exam series takes place from Tuesday 4 November to Friday 12th December. If your centre qualifies for the Department for Education's 'yellow label' exam script collection service, delivered by Parcelforce Worldwide, you will need to take the following actions to ensure your scripts are collected successfully;
1. Book script collections
Contact Parcelforce to arrange your collections by either:
- going to the Parcelforce website and selecting 'Arrange a collection'
- calling the Parcelforce exams helpdesk on 0344 561 7998
You can arrange collections up to 14 days before they are required, but you must book them at least 24 hours in advance.
If you need to amend, cancel or rearrange a collection, please contact the Parcelforce exams helpdesk on 0344 561 7998. You cannot amend a collection on the online booking form and you cannot contact Parcelforce drivers directly, as they are not equipped with mobile phones.
2. Complete the dispatch log
Download and complete a dispatch log for each collection. This must be signed by the Parcelforce driver and retained in your centre as proof of collection.
3. Prepare script packages for dispatch
Follow the dispatch of exam scripts guide when preparing your packages for collection.
Your awarding organisation will provide the packaging and address labels to dispatch your scripts for marking. Please contact them if you need more stationery.
Once Parcelforce have collected your scripts, you can use the tracking number from the yellow address labels to track your packages on the Parcelforce website.
For information about recycling arrangements, please refer to the details in our ’yellow label service’ guidance.
Websites:
AQA - www.aqa.org.uk
DfE - www.education.gov.uk/yellowlabel
Pearson - www.pearson.com
OCR - www.ocr.org.uk
WJEC - www.wjec.co.uk
NCFE - www.ncfe.org.uk
Email addresses and phone numbers:
AQA - call 0800 197 7162. Email - examinerlabels@aqa.org.uk
Cambridge International - call 01223 553554. Email - info@cambridgeinternational.org
OCR & Cambridge Technical - call 01223 553998. Email - general.qualifications@ocr.org.uk
Pearson - call 0344 463 2535. Email - examsofficers@pearson.com
WJEC - call 0292 026 5077. Email - yellowlabels@wjec.co.uk
NCFE - call 0191 239 8000. Email - assessmentdelivery@ncfe.org.uk
Parcelforce Worldwide Examinations Helpdesk - call 0344 561 7998, Email - examcollection@parcelforce.co.uk
DfE - General customer queries should be made via assessments@education.gov.uk or by phoning 0300 303 3013
Your feedback enables us to make continuing improvements to the service you receive. Please remember to complete the DfE online feedback surveys when they are emailed to you.
You can also provide feedback at any time by contacting DfE or Parcelforce using the details below:
DfE - General customer queries should be made via form.education.gov.uk/service/Contact-the-Department-for-Education or by phoning 0370 000 2288
Parcelforce Worldwide Examinations Helpdesk: 0344 561 7998
Arrange online
For Information; script collections for the November and December 2025 examinations
Your centre has entered candidates for the 2025 November and December exam series, which takes place from Tuesday 4 November to Friday 12 December. Your centre qualifies for the Department for Education's 'yellow label' exam script collection service, delivered by Parcelforce Worldwide.
During this period, you will need to contact Parcelforce Worldwide to arrange your collections.
You can arrange an ad hoc collection by either:
- clicking 'Arrange an ad hoc collection', or
- calling the Parcelforce Worldwide exams helpdesk on 0344 561 7998. You will need your 5 digit NCN number to hand when calling the helpdesk
You can arrange script collections up to 14 days before they are required but they need to be booked at least 24 hours in advance
Should you need to amend, cancel, or rearrange a collection, please contact the Parcelforce Worldwide exams helpdesk on 0344 561 7998
Please visit https://collections.parcelforce.net/dfe
Sorry we missed you...
We will deliver your exam scripts to the address you provided to your awarding body. If you are not in, we will leave a card explaining that we have called and then take the parcel back to the local Parcelforce Worldwide depot to be held securely. We will automatically attempt to redeliver to the same address the following day, including Saturday.
We will:
- arrange a redelivery to the same address, Monday to Saturday. Visit our redelivery pages to arrange this. Please note, if a redelivery on a Saturday is required, please call us on 0344 561 7998.
- arrange a delivery to a different address, authorised by you. Visit our redelivery pages to arrange this.
- hold the parcel for you to collect from the local depot. Visit our redelivery pages to arrange to collect your parcel.
- If we are unable to deliver, we will keep the package safe at our depot for 16 days before returning it to the relevant Awarding Body.
Why Parcelforce? Nobody delivers more in 2025
More traceability and control with end-to-end tracking. More trust with thousands of employed drivers that uphold your brand to the door. More reach to deliver your international orders. And more exceptional customer service support for you and your recipients.
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