The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), which delivers regulated music qualifications, has been fined £150,000 by Ofqual. The fine follows the identification of serious shortcomings in ABRSM's arrangements for retaining, managing, and ensuring the availability of assessment evidence and associated records.
Ofqual's Enforcement Panel found that ABRSM failed to retain assessment evidence across three separate incidents between 2024 and 2025. In one incident, 8,539 audio recordings of learner assessments were not retained due to a software error, affecting 20 learners who requested a review of marking.
Another incident saw assessment recordings and marking records for 16 learners deleted in error, delaying results and limiting their ability to challenge marks. Additionally, 231 assessment recordings were unavailable for a potential malpractice investigation involving a single tutor overseas responsible for 710 learners.
Ofqual also identified that around 72,000 certificates were issued with incorrect qualification titles, creating a risk of confusion. While ABRSM later corrected the error and offered replacement certificates, Ofqual found it did not initially take all reasonable steps to address the issue.
Amanda Swann, Executive Director for Delivery at Ofqual, stated that awarding organisations must retain assessment evidence to protect learners and maintain confidence in qualifications. ABRSM has agreed to pay the fine, contribute £10,000 towards investigation costs, and commission an independent audit of its record-retention arrangements.