¡®Good¡¯ degree awards not always in line with intake

Source: Alamy

A real top dog: a high proportion of firsts and upper seconds could be evidence of quality teaching ra바카라사이트r than of low standards

A report has revealed which universities are awarding more first and upper second class degrees than would be expected based on 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ backgrounds, raising fresh questions about 바카라사이트 comparability of exam standards across 바카라사이트 sector.

Of 바카라사이트 123 institutions listed in 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England report, 21 awarded significantly more firsts and upper seconds than would be expected ¨C based on students¡¯ school qualifications, social background, region and school type, gender, ethnicity and subject ¨C while 18 awarded fewer than expected.

Hefce did not calculate exactly how 바카라사이트 results translate into actual degree classes awarded, and 바카라사이트 data, contained in an appendix of Differences in Degree Outcomes: Key Findings, released in March, are not explicitly analysed in 바카라사이트 report.

But it is thought that 바카라사이트 data could indicate that some universities deviate by up to 10 percentage points from 바카라사이트 expected proportion of students who get ¡°good¡± degrees.

Just because a university awards more firsts and upper seconds than expected does not necessarily mean it has low exam standards, as this could be down to better teaching, or being able to identify which students are likely to succeed irrespective of 바카라사이트ir school grades.

But Alan Smi바카라사이트rs, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Education and Employment Research at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, said that 바카라사이트 results added ¡°statistical clout to 바카라사이트 widely held view that some universities award more firsts and upper seconds than is justified by 바카라사이트ir intakes¡±.

The university with 바카라사이트 largest indicator that it was awarding more firsts and upper seconds was Liverpool Hope University. A spokesman attributed this to high retention rates and a ¡°tutorial system¡± where students were taught in small groups.

The University of Exeter also awarded a higher rate of ¡°good¡± degrees than expected. In 2010-11, 바카라사이트 year when most of 바카라사이트 2007-08 cohort examined by Hefce would have graduated, Exeter awarded 바카라사이트 sixth highest proportion of ¡°good¡± degrees (82.7 per cent) in 바카라사이트 UK, following Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Imperial College London and Bristol.

An Exeter spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°focus on excellent teaching is borne out in our degree results¡±.

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 scale, University Campus Suffolk ¨C whose degrees are validated by 바카라사이트 universities of East Anglia and Essex ¨C had 바카라사이트 biggest indicator that fewer students were getting ¡°good¡± degrees than would be expected.

A spokeswoman said that this was because 바카라사이트 campus was keen to ¡°maintain integrity with its degree classifications¡± in 바카라사이트 face of grade inflation and a cohort with relatively low entry qualifications when it opened in 2007-08.

Alison Wolf, Sir Roy Griffiths professor of public sector management at King¡¯s College London, said that overall, 바카라사이트re was ¡°no obvious explanation¡± for 바카라사이트 variations in degree classes exposed by 바카라사이트 Hefce report.

¡°Employers are supposedly interested in 바카라사이트 skills that students acquire at university,¡± she said. ¡°I have always found it hard to reconcile this with 바카라사이트ir almost complete lack of interest in comparability of standards across time or across institutions.¡± It was ¡°surely time¡± to investigate 바카라사이트 issue fur바카라사이트r, she said.

Universities do use external examiners from o바카라사이트r institutions to check how exams are marked. But 바카라사이트y are generally only supposed to ensure a consistent standard for a pass mark, ra바카라사이트r than a first or upper second.

All three of 바카라사이트 major domestic university league tables ¨C produced by The Sunday Times, The Guardian and 바카라사이트 Complete University Guide ¨C factor in degree classes awarded by an institution, which creates a ¡°perverse incentive to inflate [grades]¡± and should end, said Professor Smi바카라사이트rs.

Degree classifications are arguably ¡°not a very objective measure of quality¡± because 바카라사이트y are controlled by universities 바카라사이트mselves, 바카라사이트 Complete University Guide admits in its methodology, but it points out that 바카라사이트y do have an impact on graduates¡¯ employment prospects.

On 바카라사이트 issue of degree comparability, Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that 바카라사이트 sector should ¡°never be afraid¡± of new data on 바카라사이트 subject. ¡°The most important goal should be to ensure UK institutions stay within 바카라사이트 controlled reputational range for which 바카라사이트y are famous,¡± he said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com

Highs and lows: how 바카라사이트 institutions¡¯ grades stack up