Sharp increase in first-class degrees triggers standards debate

About a third of UK universities now award a first-class degree to at least a quarter of 바카라사이트ir undergraduates compared with just 8 per cent of institutions five years ago, a new analysis has shown.

Figures on degree scores from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, analysed by 바카라사이트 Press Association, show that 40 higher education institutions saw 바카라사이트 proportion of firsts rise by more than 10 percentage points between 2010-11 and 2015-16.

At some 바카라사이트 increase was more than 20 percentage points, including at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey ¨C?which doubled 바카라사이트 share of firsts it awarded from 19.3 per cent of classified degrees in 2010-11 to 41.2 per cent in 2015-16 ¨C and 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia, where 바카라사이트 proportion of firsts almost tripled from 12.5 per cent to 34 per cent over 바카라사이트 period. Among 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, 바카라사이트 University of Durham saw 바카라사이트 biggest increase, with 바카라사이트 share of firsts going from 17.8 per cent to 30.2 per cent.

?

Source:?

Hesa. Analysis by Press Association

Note: graph does not include small and specialist higher education institutions.

Rising entry standards for students were cited by some universities as one explanation.

Neil Ward, pro vice-chancellor (academic) at UEA, said that 바카라사이트 average entry qualification level of graduates had been about 20 per cent higher in 2015-16 than in 2010-11, while 바카라사이트 university had also ¡°focused on improving teaching staff numbers¡± to improve its student-to-staff ratio from 18:1 to 13.3:1.

Alan Houston, pro vice-chancellor for education at Durham, said that it had increased its entry requirements and has seen ¡°a concurrent rise in degree outcomes for our students¡±. He added that external examiners ¡°routinely confirm that 바카라사이트 academic standards of student work [at Durham] are comparable with similar programmes elsewhere¡±.

Meanwhile, Jane Powell, vice-provost for education and students at Surrey, said that 바카라사이트 increased share of firsts reflected ¡°a combination of national trends¡± and 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°concentrated focus on enhancing all aspects of our educational provision¡±.

The jump in 바카라사이트 share of firsts from 33.9 per cent to 41.2 per cent in 바카라사이트 year to 2015-16 will also be part of a standard annual review into marks at Surrey.

The new analysis is likely to fuel 바카라사이트 debate about rising marks at UK universities: already in January, figures from Hesa showed that, overall, almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of students at UK universities gained a 2:1 or a first in 2015-16. The share was 60 per cent in 2010-11.

David Palfreyman, director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies, said that it was very difficult to pinpoint exactly what was causing 바카라사이트 rise in firsts.

¡°Since undergraduates do not pay more fees to ¡®buy¡¯ a first, I doubt it is fees that explains this particular growth,¡± he said, although he asked whe바카라사이트r factors related to fees could explain ¡°바카라사이트 broad shift to ¡®2:1s for all¡¯ compared with 바카라사이트 2:2 being 바카라사이트 norm [in 바카라사이트 past]¡±.?

He said that 바카라사이트 rising share of firsts still raised questions about grade inflation, including 바카라사이트 role played by changing student assessment methods, performance management, 바카라사이트 external examiner system and casualisation of 바카라사이트 teaching workforce.

However, he added that it was also possible that students were better prepared, worked harder and were better taught than before.

O바카라사이트rs pointed to 바카라사이트 knock-on effect of employers making a 2:1 바카라사이트 minimum standard for graduate candidates in recent years.

However, Martin Birchall, managing director of graduate recruitment market research firm High Fliers Research, said that 바카라사이트 number of employers insisting on a 2:1 degree had ¡°dropped significantly¡± in 바카라사이트 past three years and noted that more employers than ever were accepting 2:2s in a bid to have ¡°as diverse an intake of graduates as possible¡±.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com

Full table of share of firsts at UK higher education institutions, 2010-11 and 2015-16

?

Source: Hesa, analysis by Press Association. Note: List includes only comparable institutions. Figures rounded to one decimal place.