OTHM Fined by Ofqual After Serious Failures in Malpractice Investigations
Ofqual has fined OTHM Qualifications £25,000 after finding serious failures in malpractice investigations, record-keeping and reporting.
The UK qualifications regulator, Ofqual, has fined OTHM Qualifications £25,000 after an investigation uncovered serious weaknesses in the awarding organisation's handling of allegations of malpractice.
The regulator said the problems persisted over three years and included allowing colleges and training providers accused of wrongdoing to investigate allegations against themselves, maintaining unreliable records and failing to notify Ofqual about serious incidents.
Ofqual announced the enforcement action on August 6, 2026, following an investigation that began in February 2024 after the regulator received 12 allegations involving OTHM qualifications.
Colleges allowed to investigate allegations against themselves
One of the key concerns identified by Ofqual was OTHM's approach to investigating alleged malpractice at its approved centres.
The regulator found several instances in which colleges or training providers that were the subject of allegations were allowed to conduct their own investigations.
Ofqual said this included cases in which the centres had been warned that they could face the loss of their accreditation if malpractice or maladministration was established.
The arrangement raised concerns about the independence of investigations, particularly where the organisation conducting the inquiry could potentially be affected by its outcome.
Ofqual's regulatory framework requires awarding organisations to take reasonable steps to prevent and investigate malpractice and maladministration and to address potential adverse effects on learners and the integrity of qualifications.
Ofqual finds problems with OTHM's records
The regulator also identified significant weaknesses in OTHM's record-keeping.
According to Ofqual, the awarding organisation supplied different malpractice registers when investigators requested its records, with the information varying between versions.
OTHM was also unable to provide investigation reports for four cases that it was required to retain under its own internal policy.
The findings raised concerns about whether OTHM had an accurate and reliable system for tracking allegations, investigations and their outcomes.
Only one serious incident reported between 2018 and 2024
Ofqual further found that OTHM had submitted only one notification concerning a potentially serious incident between 2018 and 2024.
This was despite OTHM's own records containing several malpractice and maladministration incidents that, according to Ofqual, met the threshold for reporting to the regulator.
The lack of timely notifications meant Ofqual was not allowed to intervene at an earlier stage.
Under Ofqual's rules, awarding organisations are required to notify the regulator about certain incidents, including circumstances involving malpractice or maladministration that could affect the validity of qualifications or have wider regulatory implications.
OTHM agrees to further oversight
Ofqual said OTHM has acknowledged the failures and has since taken steps to strengthen its systems.
The organisation has developed an action plan and invested in its systems, procedures and staff. It has also agreed to provide Ofqual with regular reports on the effectiveness of the changes.
Those reports will be subject to checks by independent auditors, providing an additional layer of oversight as OTHM works to address the regulator's concerns.
Ofqual Executive Director for Delivery Amanda Swann said awarding organisations should view reporting serious incidents as part of good governance rather than as an indication of failure.
She stressed that the regulator needs to be informed about problems so it can intervene when necessary to protect learners.
Swann added that although OTHM had recognised what went wrong and taken corrective measures, the £25,000 penalty was intended to underline the seriousness of the failures.
Why the Ofqual action matters
The case highlights the importance of independent malpractice investigations and accurate regulatory reporting in maintaining confidence in qualifications.
Ofqual's rules require recognised awarding organisations to comply with regulatory conditions on an ongoing basis. Its guidance specifically identifies issues such as poor record-keeping, faulty procedures and failure to follow appropriate processes as forms of maladministration that can undermine the integrity of qualifications.
For learners, employers and education providers, the credibility of a qualification depends not only on the assessment itself but also on the systems used to investigate suspected wrongdoing and ensure that certificates are awarded appropriately.
Ofqual said it will continue to monitor OTHM's progress after the enforcement action.
Source: Ofqual, UK qualifications regulator.
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