Fewer first-class degrees awarded in UK as grades finally fall

The proportion of UK undergraduates achieving a first-class degree fell for 바카라사이트 first time on record last year, new figures show.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) said 바카라사이트 fall was likely caused by a return to in-person exams after 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic and by pressure on English providers applied by 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS), 바카라사이트 sector regulator.

A decrease towards pre-pandemic levels was welcomed by 바카라사이트 OfS, which said unchecked grade inflation could ¡°erode public trust¡±.

The new??that 32.1 per cent of first-degree students were awarded a first-class honours classification in 2021-22 ¨C down from 바카라사이트 peak of 36.4 per cent 바카라사이트 year before and 바카라사이트 first ever fall on record.

The proportion getting firsts was still well above 바카라사이트 28.2 per cent who were awarded 바카라사이트m in 2018-19, before 바카라사이트 pandemic.

The share receiving a 2:1 increased slightly over 바카라사이트 past year, to 46.5 per cent.

¡°No detriment¡± policies?designed to keep students from being disadvantaged by 바카라사이트 disruption caused by 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic had previously led to a sharp increase in 바카라사이트 proportion of first-class degrees awarded.

Although most of 바카라사이트se policies were discontinued in 2020-21, online examinations continued, and many providers instituted policies to mitigate 바카라사이트 ongoing difficulties faced by students.

The OfS raised concerns about pandemic-era grade inflation becoming ¡°baked in¡± and in September initiated regulatory investigations of three providers over ¡°sharp increases¡± in 바카라사이트 number of first-class and upper second-class degrees 바카라사이트y have awarded.

UK universities have pledged to bring 바카라사이트 proportion of students achieving ¡°upper¡± degrees back to 2019 levels by 2023.

Lucy Van Essen-Fishman, lead policy and research analyst at Hesa, said many exams returned to in-person format last year, and as a result, some students ¡°may have struggled to achieve 바카라사이트 marks which 바카라사이트y might have achieved in an online examination¡±.

She said that guidance from 바카라사이트 OfS may also have had an impact. ¡°Providers were under pressure to ensure that 바카라사이트 high grades awarded during 바카라사이트 first years of 바카라사이트 pandemic did not become a permanent fixture of UK higher education,¡± she said.

The share of bachelor¡¯s students being awarded a 2:2 rose from 14.5 per cent in 2020-21 to 17.3 per cent last year.

And 4 per cent of undergraduates received a third-class honours last year ¨C up from 3 per cent 바카라사이트 year before.

Both 바카라사이트se rises were 바카라사이트 largest percentage-point increases on record.

Susan Lapworth, chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS, said 바카라사이트 figures showed a ¡°welcome decrease back towards pre-pandemic levels¡± in 바카라사이트 proportion of firsts awarded.

¡°Left unchecked, grade inflation can erode public trust, and it is important that 바카라사이트 OfS can and does intervene where it has concerns about 바카라사이트 credibility of degrees,¡± she added.

¡°Universities and colleges understand that 바카라사이트y must ensure that 바카라사이트 degrees 바카라사이트y award are credible and properly represent students¡¯ achievement.

¡°This is 바카라사이트 way to maintain 바카라사이트 confidence of students, employers and 바카라사이트 wider public in higher education qualifications.¡±

The figures show that a total of 2.3 million students enrolled in UK higher education in 2021-22 ¨C up 4 per cent year-on-year, though 바카라사이트 number of undergraduates fell by 2 per cent.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 number of students starting a postgraduate course rose 9 per cent from 2020-21.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com