An Ofqual press release dated 14 October 2026 said the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) had been fined £150,000 over serious shortcomings in retaining, managing and ensuring the availability of assessment evidence and related records. The regulator's Enforcement Panel found ABRSM failed to retain such evidence in three separate incidents between 2024 and 2025, leaving information unavailable for marking reviews or a malpractice investigation.

Ofqual said a software error meant 8,539 audio recordings of completed learner assessments were not retained; 20 learners who requested a review of marking could not have it conducted using all the original evidence. In a second incident, recordings and completed marking records for 16 learners were deleted in error, delaying results and limiting those learners' ability to challenge their marks. In a third, ABRSM identified potential malpractice involving one tutor overseas who entered 710 learners, but 231 assessment recordings were no longer available, limiting its investigation.

Ofqual also found about 72,000 certificates were issued with incorrect qualification titles, creating a risk of confusion; ABRSM later corrected this and offered replacements, but Ofqual said it did not initially take all reasonable steps. Amanda Swann, Ofqual's Executive Director for Delivery, said weaknesses in ABRSM's controls meant evidence could not always be accessed. ABRSM agreed to pay the fine, contribute £10,000 toward Ofqual's investigation and enforcement costs, and commission an independent audit of its record-retention arrangements.