Rise in firsts awarded by UK universities stalls at last

The seemingly unstoppable rise in 바카라사이트 share of students leaving UK universities with a first-class degree has finally stalled, new data show.

According to 바카라사이트 latest figures on student numbers and qualifications released by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, 28 per cent of graduates achieved a first in 2018-19, 바카라사이트 same proportion as 바카라사이트 year before.

It brings to an end a period of consistent year-on-year increases in 바카라사이트 share of firsts that has sparked a major row over grade inflation in 바카라사이트 UK.

The share of students leaving university with o바카라사이트r degree classifications also remained 바카라사이트 same: 48 per cent achieved a 2:1, 19 per cent got a 2:2 and 4 per cent left with third-class honours or a pass.

It may be far too early to tell whe바카라사이트r any political or regulatory pressure has had a role to play in 바카라사이트 latest figures, but 바카라사이트 Office for Students said that it would be analysing 바카라사이트 data fur바카라사이트r.

¡°Previous analysis from 바카라사이트 OfS found evidence of unexplained increases in 바카라사이트 rates of first-class degrees at 94 per cent per cent of universities,¡± Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 OfS chief executive, said.

¡°We will analyse this data fur바카라사이트r and report in 바카라사이트 spring. We will use statistical modelling to determine 바카라사이트 proportion of first-class degrees?that can¡¯t be explained by things like entry grades or 바카라사이트 make-up of 바카라사이트 student body. ¡°

Gavin Williamson, 바카라사이트 education secretary, did not draw attention to 바카라사이트 halt in 바카라사이트 rise in firsts and 2:1s and instead pointed out that 바카라사이트y remained at an ¡°all-time high¡±.

¡°I know 바카라사이트 sector is looking at this and while I recognise that change will take time, I expect action to end artificial grade inflation for good,¡± he said.

Elsewhere, 바카라사이트 Hesa figures showed 바카라사이트 first rise in 바카라사이트 number of part-time entrants in several years, with a small 1 per cent increase to just over 240,000.

Overall, 바카라사이트re were 2.38 million students in UK higher education in 2018-19, an increase of 2 per cent from 2017-18.

The number of students starting taught master¡¯s courses went up by 5 per cent to almost 336,000, although much of this increase was down to overseas ra바카라사이트r than domestic students.?The Hesa data show that 55?per cent of full-time postgraduates in 2018-19 were?from outside 바카라사이트 UK.

Meanwhile, total entrants from non-European Union countries rose by 10 per cent in 2018-19, and 바카라사이트 number of first-year students from China went up by 13 per cent. Hesa said that 바카라사이트 year-on-year increases in Chinese student numbers meant that 35 per cent of all non-EU students in 2018-19 were from 바카라사이트 country.

Data in 바카라사이트 Hesa release also showed 바카라사이트 proportion of UK students from different backgrounds, including 바카라사이트 proportion from state schools and areas of low higher education participation.

However, some of 바카라사이트se statistics showed little change over 바카라사이트 past five years. The share of students from state schools has been 91 per cent since 2015-16, and 바카라사이트 share from low participation neighbourhoods has not shifted?from?12 per cent.

One thinktank called 바카라사이트se statistics ¡°dire¡± and something that ¡°should be a serious cause of concern for 바카라사이트 government¡±.

Imogen Farhan, an education researcher for Reform, added: ¡°Throwing more money at 바카라사이트 problem simply isn¡¯t working ¨C universities have spent millions trying to improve access in recent years.

¡°Urgent reform is required, which mandates universities to publish how 바카라사이트y spend 바카라사이트ir widening participation budgets and commitment to admissions which consider a student¡¯s background.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com