Is University getting harder?

Data acquired from a Freedom of Information request shows that over the past four years shows that courses provided by Canterbury Christchurch University are getting much harder each year.

In 2015, 83 students were not allowed to progress due to academic failure, rising to 181 in 2016 and it rose even more to 238 in 2017. 

The data shows that over the past four years there has been a 96% increase in students failing. 

According to Canterbury Christchurch, “students not completing their learning journey is always a concern for the University and the students but the reasons are many, and complex”, adding that “all students are also reminded that they can seek support from the Student Support Health and Wellbeing Team if they need to”.

A third year student, from CCCU, Rebecca, failed one of her modules last year and she said that “it gets harder and harder every year and it can be quite demotivating to fail, although I am getting more help from my tutors now”. 

According to The Guardian, university grades are in reality improving, and universities have been handing out first class degrees at an “unprecedented rate”. In 2006/7, University of Wolverhampton gave 5% of students a first class degree, but in 2016/17, 28% of students received a first class degree.

Anna, from the University of Portsmouth, studying biology, said that “it’s not the coursework that is difficult, it is finding the balance of managing your social life, work, employment and more”, adding “I failed a module in second year, but not because of how hard the course but having to balance two jobs to be able to live”.

Spate of crime in Ashford angers local residents

Residents of Ashford are living in fear after a spate of catapult and knife related crime have swept the area. 

Locals have taken to community driven pages on Facebook to share their fear, frustration and anger, after three youths were spotted with a catapult shooting vehicles and pickup trucks.

Emma Briggs, of Kennington in Ashford, described the town as “awful” and she raised the question, “How bad is this town getting?”

Anais Lecerf’s partners car
Source: Facebook

In another incident, Anais Lecerf reported on the same evening that someone had purposely jumped onto the bonnet of her husband’s Mercedes causing a huge dent. 

According to the Kent Police, they stated that “several other cars have been damaged in the area lately”.

Locals blame not only the youths themselves but also Kent Police. James Hazeldon, stated that due to their age they are “released with a slap on the wrist” if they are caught, only to be “back out the following day doing the same thing”. 

Just weeks later, a man in his 40s was mugged by three teenagers, taking his wallet and mobile phone after being threatened with a knife. The victim, suffered cuts and bruises. The three teenagers were arrested the next day, according to Kent Police.

Local communities have banded together to create Neighbourhood Watch groups, to help create local awareness and make residents feel safer in their homes.