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Notice

Notice of Costs Recovery in respect of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM)

Published 14 October 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-of-monetary-penalty-and-costs-recovery-abrsm/notice-of-costs-recovery-in-respect-of-the-associated-board-of-the-royal-schools-of-music-abrsm

In accordance with its powers under Section 152A(1) of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (“the Act”), and pursuant to its obligations under Section 152A(4) of the Act, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (“Ofqual”) gives notice that, having imposed a Monetary Penalty on ABRSM it has decided to require ABRSM to pay Ofqual’s costs in relation to imposing that penalty in the sum of £10,000(“the Costs”). 

Summary

  1. Ofqual may require a recognised body (an awarding organisation) on which a sanction has been imposed to pay the costs incurred by Ofqual in relation to imposing that sanction.

  2. ABRSM is an awarding organisation recognised by Ofqual. On 7 October 2026, Ofqual imposed a sanction as defined under Section 152A(2) of the Act.

Decision

3. Ofqual’s Enforcement Panel has considered the costs incurred by Ofqual in relation to imposing a Monetary Penalty on ABRSM and has decided that ABRSM should be required to pay the Costs of £10,000.

Payment

4. The Costs must be paid within 28 days of the date of this Notice, in accordance with the Payment Instructions provided with this notice.

5. In the event of non-payment, interest may be charged and the outstanding amount may be recovered as a debt, in accordance with section 152C of the Act.

Appeals

  1. 6. An awarding organisation may appeal to the First Tier Tribunal in respect of Ofqual’s decision to require it to pay the Costs and / or in respect of the amount of the Costs, in accordance with section 152B of the Act.

  2. 7. An appeal may be made on the grounds that:
    1. a. The decision was based on an error of fact;
    2. b. The decision was wrong in law;
    3. c. The decision was unreasonable.
  3. 8. Any appeal must be made within 28 days of the date of this Notice. Further information is available from HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

Signed: Susan Barratt, Chair of the Enforcement Panel

Date: 7 October 2026

Enforcement Panel:  Susan Barratt, Hardip Begol CBE, David Bowden

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