In a recent interview, the Education Department shared significant updates to accountability measures for schools in England that aim to broaden the horizon for students after they leave school. The newly revised metrics will no longer focus on the number of students who enroll in prestigious institutions such as Russell Group or Oxbridge universities. Instead, the goal is to encourage graduates to consider a more diverse array of universities and vocational options.
According to the Department for Education, the updated accountability measures for students aged 16 to 18 will exclude the percentage of school leavers advancing to Russell Group universities or Oxford and Cambridge from the student destinations data reported for each school. This change has been met with enthusiasm by university leaders, who have expressed concerns that the previous focus on Russell Group universities pushed students toward these institutions while neglecting other viable options.
Nick Hillman, the director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, remarked, “I welcome the change because government metrics should not be based on self-selecting clubs. There are excellent universities in the Russell Group and equally exemplary institutions outside of it. We shouldn’t steer students towards one group just to enhance a school’s ranking.”
The school performance tables will still reflect the proportion of students who proceed to “high tariff” universities, which are defined as those within the top third based on entry requirements, including those in the Russell Group and Oxbridge. The tables will also include statistics on students heading to universities, colleges, or apprenticeships.
The Russell Group, which originated from informal vice-chancellor meetings in London’s Russell Square, includes research-intensive universities like Warwick, Cardiff, and Glasgow. However, it does not encompass other institutions of similar prestige, such as St Andrews, Bath, and East Anglia. Data from the Department for Education indicates that the Russell Group has been gradually increasing its share of students in recent years.
According to the DfE, this change seeks to eliminate redundancy, as Russell Group institutions are already included in the progression figures for the top third of selective universities, which fluctuate each year based on entry grades.
Lee Elliot Major, a professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, expressed concern that eliminating these measures might lessen the pressure on leading universities to enhance access for disadvantaged students. “Social mobility is about more than just catapulting a fortunate few into elite positions,” he stated. “It’s essential to keep the focus on our most prestigious institutions to ensure they are tapping into talent from all backgrounds, especially now when student demographics are becoming more privileged.”
He continued, “The goal of education should be that no one’s background determines their future—whether they choose a vocational, creative, or academic path. Success shouldn’t hinge solely on someone’s ability to ‘leave to achieve.’ Failing to diversify the student body at highly selective universities risks creating future elites that are increasingly unrepresentative of society.”
A spokesperson from the Department for Education added, “We are committed to widening access to higher education so that everyone who wishes to attend university and meets the criteria can do so. Our world-class universities are vital engines of growth and opportunity, and we are working to ensure they can serve students, local communities, and the economy effectively. We are also focused on creating a sustainable higher education funding system to dismantle barriers to opportunity. Beyond universities, we will continue to promote a variety of pathways to rewarding careers, including apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, and degree apprenticeships.”
