UK regulator fines OTHM £25,000 over malpractice failures

Ofqual, the UK's qualifications regulator, has imposed a £25,000 fine on OTHM Qualifications due to significant and persistent failures in its handling of malpractice allegations involving colleges and training providers.

The regulator's investigation, initiated in February 2024 following 12 allegations, revealed that OTHM allowed institutions accused of malpractice to investigate themselves. This practice occurred even in cases where the institutions were warned of potential accreditation loss. Ofqual also found that OTHM maintained inconsistent records, producing different malpractice registers upon request and failing to provide investigation reports for four cases it was obligated to retain.

Furthermore, between 2018 and 2024, OTHM recorded dozens of incidents meeting the reporting threshold for malpractice and maladministration but only submitted a single notification to Ofqual. This lack of reporting prevented timely regulatory intervention.

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OTHM has acknowledged what went wrong and taken steps to put it right. We will be watching.

These failures spanned over four years and are significant for the millions of students, including international students, who rely on the integrity of awarding bodies for their qualifications. OTHM Qualifications is a UK-based awarding organization that develops vocational qualifications delivered through approved centers both domestically and internationally, often serving as a pathway to bachelor's and master's degree top-up programs.

OTHM has since acknowledged the issues and implemented a detailed action plan, investing in its systems, processes, and staff to prevent recurrence. The organization has agreed to provide regular progress reports to Ofqual, which will be subject to independent audits. Amanda Swann, Ofqual's Executive Director for Delivery, stressed the importance of timely notifications, stating, "When Ofqual is not kept informed, we cannot step in to protect learners."

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I’d like to remind awarding organisations that event notifications are a sign of good governance, not a sign of failure. When Ofqual is not kept informed, we cannot step in to protect learners.