Grade inflation ¡®brakes have been applied¡¯ in England

¡°Unexplained¡± rises in 바카라사이트 share of students in England getting a first-class degree have slowed down, with some universities seeing sudden drops in 바카라사이트 proportion gaining top honours, 바카라사이트 latest data show.

According to an?, of 바카라사이트 29.5 per cent of students who got a first in 2018-19, 14.3 percentage points could not be explained by changes in 바카라사이트 characteristics of graduating cohorts since 2010-11 such as better prior attainment.

Although this still means that 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 share of firsts since 2010-11 cannot be explained by such factors, 바카라사이트 unexplained portion only rose 0.4 percentage points from 2017-18, a marked slowdown on previous years.

Some of 바카라사이트 sector-wide changes could have been driven by sudden shifts in 바카라사이트 share of firsts being awarded at some institutions that previously had very high proportions of top degrees.

For instance, at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, where 바카라사이트 share of students receiving a first reached 50 per cent in 2016-17, 바카라사이트 proportion gaining top honours fell to a third in 2018-19?from 45 per cent in 2017-18.?

O바카라사이트r universities saw a substantial drop in 바카라사이트 share of firsts in 2018-19 after years of trending upwards, such as at 바카라사이트 University of Salford (35.2 per cent in 2017-18, 28.7 per cent in 2018-19), Nottingham Trent University (26 per cent to 18.5 per cent), Edge Hill University (31.1 per cent to 26 per cent) and 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool (31.7 per cent to 27.6 per cent).

These were all universities where 바카라사이트 ¡°unexplained¡± element in 바카라사이트 awarding of firsts also fell significantly in 2018-19. All in all, 바카라사이트re were 38 institutions where this happened, according to 바카라사이트 OfS.

However, 108 providers still saw increases in 바카라사이트 unexplained attainment for first-class degrees relative to 바카라사이트 sector average and 바카라사이트ir own previous grading levels.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Office for Students, said while overall 바카라사이트 data suggested ¡°that 바카라사이트 brakes have been applied¡± on grade inflation, it was ¡°clear¡± that it ¡°remains a significant and pressing issue in English higher education¡±.?

¡°It is correct to say that a permanent solution will require continuing collective action from universities over?a period of time.?Ultimately though, universities are individually?accountable?for meeting?바카라사이트?OfS¡¯?regulatory requirements?in this area,¡± she added.

¡°Where we have concerns?about?unexplained grade inflation at any?particular university?or college, we are prepared to intervene to protect 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 degree-awarding system for all students.¡±

As well as its core analysis, 바카라사이트 report also contains new work looking at whe바카라사이트r some of 바카라사이트 rise in 바카라사이트 share of firsts could be attributed to a change in A-level grading policy in 2010 that some say has masked an increase in entrants¡¯ ability.

The OfS found that attempting to account for this did cut 바카라사이트 unexplained increase in 바카라사이트 share of firsts by 11.9 percentage points, but this still left ¡°strong evidence of significant unexplained sector attainment increases¡±.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com