£250,000 Fine faced by Pearson: UK’s Largest Exam Boards – Impacting 7,244 Exam Responses

Pearson, one of the UK’s largest exam boards, faces a £250,000 fine from Ofqual after breaching key regulations designed to protect students and ensure the integrity of GCSE, A-level, and BTEC exams.

The breaches, which occurred in 2023, involved conflicts of interest and confidentiality failures regarding exam papers. Pearson admitted its errors and cooperated fully with Ofqual’s enforcement process.

What Were the Key Breaches?

1. Conflicts of Interest (Impacting 7,244 Exam Responses)

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Pearson failed to identify and monitor conflicts of interest involving 195 examiners who were also working as tutors for Pearson under the National Tutoring Programme. These examiners marked 7,244 GCSE, A-level, and BTEC responses at schools where they had potential conflicts of interest.

To address this issue, Pearson ensured that potentially compromised responses were remarked by other examiners before grades were issued. They have since improved their systems and strengthened examiner notification processes regarding personal interests.

2. Breaches of Exam Confidentiality

Pearson failed to safeguard the confidentiality of exam materials in six instances where individuals involved in creating or advising on exam paper content were also practicing teachers.

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To prevent future breaches, Pearson implemented additional staff training and introduced stricter measures to ensure exam content remains secure.

Ofqual’s Response

Amanda Swann, Ofqual’s Executive Director for General Qualifications, emphasized the seriousness of the breaches:

“Our rules protect students taking regulated qualifications, including GCSEs, A-levels, and BTECs. We will take action when these rules are breached, and students’ interests are put at risk.”

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While no direct harm to students was found, Ofqual’s enforcement panel determined the breaches were severe enough to warrant a fine.

Pearson’s Reaction and Settlement

Pearson acknowledged its mistakes and agreed to a settlement proposal that includes the £250,000 fine. The exam board also confirmed it has taken corrective actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Next Steps: Notice of Intention to Fine

Ofqual has published a Notice of Intention to fine Pearson, providing full details of the case. Interested parties are invited to submit their representations before a final decision is made.

Background: Ofqual’s Enforcement Powers

Ofqual’s Taking Regulatory Action Policy outlines its powers to address breaches by awarding organizations, which include:

• Fines of up to 10% of an organization’s turnover.
• Withdrawing an organization’s ability to offer certain qualifications.
• Imposing special conditions or undertakings.

This fine highlights Ofqual’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of UK qualifications and ensuring that awarding bodies follow strict protocols. With corrective measures now in place, Pearson aims to restore confidence in its exam processes and prevent future violations.