Notice of monetary penalty and costs recovery: ABRSM
Imposition of a Monetary Penalty on the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM),
Applies to England
Documents
Details
ABRSM has been recognised by Ofqual since 1 April 2010. ABRSM delivers a range of regulated music qualifications through face-to-face and digitally assessed qualification products.
Between 2024 and 2025, ABRSM notified Ofqual of 4 separate incidents relating to the retention of assessment evidence, the operation of reviews of marking and appeals, the investigation of suspected malpractice, and the accuracy of certificates issued to learners.
Following investigation and regulatory engagement, Ofqual concluded that ABRSM’s arrangements gave rise to breaches of the General Conditions of Recognition. ABRSM has accepted that it failed to retain assessment evidence which affected a small number of reviews of marking and a malpractice investigation and that it issued certificates containing inaccurate qualification titles.
As a result of the matters described above, ABRSM accepts that it has breached its Conditions of Recognition in the circumstances set out below.