‘Unis must tackle rise of grade inflation so degrees have value’

UNIVERSITIES must address the “inexplicable” rise of grade inflation to avoid the value of degrees being undermined, the chairman of the new student watchdog has said.

Sir Michael Barber, chairman of the Office for Students (OfS), said he expected universities to tackle the “accelerating” problem, to ensure students graduate with a “worthwhile degree”.

Recent statistics revealed that from 1997 to 2009, the proportion of firsts almost doubled from 7% to 13%. Since 2010 the figure has gone up to 26%.

The proportion of 2.1 degrees has risen from 40% to 49% since 1995, meaning that 75% of students now achieve one of the top two classifications, compared with 47% in the mid-1990s.

Writing in The Times, Sir Michael said: “We expect vice-chancellors to be bold in responding to students’ expectations... How do they intend to address the growing evidence that grade inflation is accelerating inexplicably, potentially undermining the long-term validity of degrees?”

He warned that the OfS would “step in” if universities were deemed to have “fallen short”.

“We can impose specific conditions on providers or fine them,” he added. “Universities that don’t meet their obligations to students should worry as much about our bite as our bark.”

Last month, think-tank Reform suggested a new system should be put in place to tackle “rocketing” grade inflation.

Under the plans, a new regulator would set the standards required by higher education providers when offering a degree course.

The report recommended that universities should lose the freedom to select their student’s final degree grades in order to curb the proportion of firsts being awarded.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said at the time that students deserved a grading system that recognised hard work and that it was time for universities to act.