First-class degree record ‘proof of grade inflation’

THE highest number of first-class degrees on record were awarded last year, with almost one in three students graduating with top marks.

Of those who completed undergraduate degrees last summer, 110,475 students across the UK (28 per cent) were awarded a first.

The proportion of first-class degrees has increased by two per cent each year since 2013-14 and fourfold since 1994-5, according to figures published yesterday by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

The figures come amid mounting concern about grade inflation, with Damian Hinds, the Education Secretary, urging universities to take action. He had previously called on the Office for Students (OFS) to “deal firmly” with any institutions “found to be unreasonably inflating grades”.

The lifting of student number controls in England in 2015 gave universities free rein to recruit as many undergraduates as they saw fit but the move has led to accusations that they now act like businesses, seeking to maximise their revenue by recruiting as many students as possible.

Universities are in fierce competition to attract students, and offering a high proportion of top degrees is seen as one way to entice school leavers to an institution.

Chris Mcgovern, a former government adviser and director of the Campaign for Real Education, said: “Qualifications are being devalued. Universities are competing to pull in the punters, and if they can offer a high likelihood of getting a first, it is a big draw. In the long term it will damage the credibility of our education system.”

The higher education watchdog last month warned universities to curb what it called spiralling grade inflation. The OFS threatened institutions with sanctions, including fines or even deregistration, if they failed to act.

Students who left school last year with grades of CCD or below at A-level were almost three times more likely to graduate with first-class honours than they were in 2010-11, according to the regulator’s own research.

A Department for Education spokesman said it was concerned that the “continued increase in firsts across the sector is not proportionate to improving standards”.

He added: “Universities have a duty to maintain the value of the degrees they award. We have urged universities to tackle this issue and the Office for Students will use its powers to drive change if the sector does not quickly get to grips with this issue.”

♦ A survey by PA Consulting of 160 vice-chancellors found many believed that “intense competition” was shrinking pools of qualified recruits and had had a “damaging” impact, with reduced entry standards, grade inflation, the rise of unconditional offers and increased class sizes.