The Office for Students (OfS) has opened investigations at three higher education providers to examine the reasons for sharp increases in the rates of students being awarded first class and upper second class honours degrees.
This follows the publication earlier this year of analysis which shows that the proportion of first class degrees awarded in England has more than doubled, from 15.7 per cent in 2010-11 to 37.9 per cent in 2020-21. These proportions have become a focus for public and sector concern even before the pandemic, with steady increases in the rates of students awarded firsts and 2:1s for more than a decade.
