The higher education regulator has warned universities and
colleges to steer clear of normalising post-pandemic grade
inflation. Figures released by the Office for Students (OfS)
today find that more than half of first class degrees awarded to
students in 2020-21 cannot be explained when compared to
students’ attainment a decade ago.
The report – Analysis of degree classifications over time:
changes in graduate attainment from 2010-11 to 2020-21 –
analyses degrees awarded to students between 2010-11 and 2020-21,
with data presented at a sector, subject and individual
university and college level. In 2010-11, 15.7 per cent of
students were awarded first class honours. The proportion of
students awarded the top grade has more than doubled, reaching
37.9 per cent in 2020-21. The report also
finds:
· Nearly six in ten
first class degrees are unexplained. Of the 37.9 per cent of
students awarded first class degrees, 22.4 percentage points
remained unexplained after the OfS had taken into account a
variety of observable factors – including students’ prior entry
qualifications and their background characteristics – which may
affect attainment.
· By 2020-21 all
universities and colleges included in the analysis saw
significant increases in unexplained first class degrees when
compared to 2010-11.
· Rates of first class
awards have risen for all students, regardless of their entry
qualifications. In 2020-21, 60.8 per cent of students with three
As and above at A-level received a first class degree, compared
to 33.5 per cent in 2010-11. The average rate of firsts for those
entering with A-levels DDD and below has increased more than
five-fold, from 5.3 per cent to 28.5 per cent.
Susan Lapworth, interim chief executive at the OfS,
said:
“This report starkly demonstrates the scale of increases in
degree classifications in our universities and colleges.
Unmerited grade inflation is bad for students, graduates and
employers, and damages the reputation of English higher
education.
“We know that universities and colleges used ‘no detriment’
policies to respond to the exceptional set of circumstances
caused by the pandemic. But grade inflation has been a real
credibility issue for the sector for some time and the pandemic
cannot be used as an excuse to allow a decade of unexplained
grade inflation to be baked into the system.
“Our report is clear that there are a variety of reasons –
including improved teaching and learning – that could lead to an
increase in the rate of firsts awarded. However the sustained
increase in unexplained firsts awarded continues to pose
regulatory concerns for the OfS.
“It is essential that students, employers and graduates can have
confidence that degrees represent an accurate assessment of
achievement, with credible and reliable qualifications which
stand the test of time. Where this is not the case, the OfS has
always said we are prepared to take action. We now have new
conditions of registration in force and we will be publishing
more details about our plans to investigate these issues
shortly.”
ENDS
Notes
1. The Office for Students (OfS) is
the independent regulator for higher education in England. Our
aim is to ensure that every student, whatever their background,
has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches
their lives and careers.
2. The term ‘unexplained’ in the
analysis means that changes in attainment since 2010-11 cannot be
statistically accounted for by changes in the characteristics of
the graduating cohort in terms of the explanatory variables
included in the statistical modelling.
3. The analysis included degrees
awarded by 143 universities, colleges and other higher education
providers.
4. The OfS used statistical
modelling of individual-level graduate data to estimate expected
patterns in degree classification attainment between 2010-11 to
2020-21, accounting for the following graduate characteristics
(explanatory variables):
·
the provider at which the graduate was registered
·
year of graduation
·
subject of study
·
qualifications on entry into higher education
·
age
·
declared disability status
·
ethnicity
·
sex
·
tracking underrepresentation by area based on Middle Super Output
Areas (TUNDRA MSOA) quintile.
- A copy of the report is attached, along with an Annex which
provides data at individual university and college level. All the
documents are also published at:https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/analysis-of-degree-classifications-over-time-changes-in-graduate-attainment-from-2010-11-to-2020-21/
