Guardian: Should students be encouraged to set their sights on Russell Group universities?

Sophie-Cousens

Sophie Cousens, Plymouth University graduate

A fierce row has broken out over new pressure on schools to focus on getting students into ‘big brand’ universities, writes Anna Fazackerley in today’s Guardian.

Libby Hackett, director of the University Alliance, a group of business-focused universities that includes Plymouth and Hertfordshire, calls the new measure a “lazy generalisation” that could “force a school’s hand” even if they know a course elsewhere is outstanding or better suited to a particular pupil.

Hackett says: “This is very dangerous. The government is creating a system where membership of a particular group of universities is being used as a proxy measure of excellence that will feed into league tables and, therefore, drive behaviour of schools and the advice they give their students.”

Sophie Cousens, who was in our More than a degree campaign features in the article. You can read Sophie’s story here.

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