Last summer high number of students in the United Kingdom received a first-class degree after universities use so called without prejudice measures for students assessment that has changed due to circumstances beyond the control.

Statistical information released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency showed that the number of students earned the highest degree qualification raised from 28% to 35% last year no matter the government’s effort to control the grade inflation.   

Many colleges and universities now use this non-prejudice measures policy to provide a safety net for students whose training campuses were suddenly closed last March. It would help them not to get lower final grades than their latest in-year grades.  

In January, students decried Russel Group of Universities for their decision to stop using these non-prejudice measures due to the fact that there is no longer appropriate.

Here is Russel Group statement: “Our universities are confident that the steps taken this year will ensure all students are given a fair grade.” “We therefore do not consider that using the same algorithmic approach to provide individual ‘no detriment’ or ‘safety net’ policies, which were introduced by some institutions as an emergency measure at the end of the last academic year, is necessary or appropriate this year.”

The chief executive of the Office for students Nicola Dandridge clarified the situation saying that unexplained grade inflation had begun to slow before the pandemic and informed that these temporary changes in response to the pandemic should not affect future grade inflation.  It will be careful work to balance the system.

Student’s life satisfaction ratings dropped through 9% from 5.3 to 4.8 out of 10 in 2020. That number is not surprising due to the lockdown measures that took place. Nonetheless, more and more students slowly returning to the full time study and continue to reach high standards despite this complicated situation.