CG PERFORMANCE IN THE 2014 TIMES/SUNDAY TIMES GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE LEAGUE TABLE
Full information is available for 12 Cathedrals Group (CG) institutions (Bishop Grosseteste University, Canterbury
Christ Church University, University of Chester, University of Chichester, University of Cumbria, University of
Gloucestershire, Leeds Trinity University, Newman University, Roehampton University, University of St Mark & St
John, University of Winchester, and York St John University). Partial returns are available for two more CG
institutions (Heythrop College, University of London and St Mary’s University College, Twickenham). Two CG
institutions (Liverpool Hope University and University of Wales Trinity Saint David) chose not to have their data
included in the league table.
KEY MESSAGES
The Cathedrals Group institutions improved their performance in the 2014 league table compared with last year. Of
the 12 Member institutions included in the main league table of 121 universities:
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Three moved higher in the rankings compared with 2013. In order of their 2014 rankings these were: Chester
up 7 places, Winchester up 18 places and most improved CG performance, York St John up 16 places, and
Roehampton up 6 places.
These four CG Members along with Chichester and St Mark and St John and Newman (both included in this
league table for the first time) were ranked among the top two-thirds of all UK universities, coming in 80th
place or above in the listing of 121 universities.
Both Chester (equal 52nd place) and Winchester (equal 57th place) were in the top half of all UK universities.
In terms of top regional performance:
 Chester was the top new university in the North West region.
 Chichester was the best university for student retention in the South East region.
Looking at how CG institutions did by subject compared with all universities:
 Top CG provider in Education was Canterbury Christ Church University, ranked 13 of 71 providers. Also
ranked amongst the top 50% of Education providers were St Mary’s (ranked 27th), Chichester (30th)
Winchester (33rd) and St Mark & St John (36th).
 Top CG provider in Theology & Religious Studies was Chester, ranked 20 of 34 providers.
 Chester was also rated the top CG provider in another 13 subject areas. Amongst Chester’s highest scoring
areas were English (ranked equal 41st of 99 providers); Geography and Environmental Science (38th of 72);
Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation & Tourism (7th equal of 49 providers); Psychology (38th of 107); Social Work
(43rd of 74); Sociology (35th of 85); and Sports Science (13th equal of 73 providers).
 Winchester was rated the top CG performer in 2 subjects: History (38th of 89 providers) and Communication
& Media Studies (36th equal of 89 providers).
 Roehampton was the highest performing CG institution across the arts, rated top CG performer in Art &
Design (14th of 79 providers); Drama, Dance & Cinematics (24th of 91); and Music (ranked 17th of 73
providers).
 Cumbria was rated the top CG performer in four areas and was amongst the top UK performers in three of
these: Law (37th equal of 95 providers); Nursing (46th of 64); and Subjects Allied to Medicine (29th of 74).
And looking across the other detailed indicators covered by The Times/The Sunday Times 2014 Good University
Guide:
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Analysis of the universities receiving most applications across the UK showed Chester received more
applications than other CG institutions (rated 48th in a table listing 126 universities).
Chester was also the most competitive CG university for places, rated 24th overall across the UK from a total
of 126 universities.
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In terms of the number of mature students studying at UK universities, CG institutions demonstrated that
overall they recruited significantly more mature students than average. In five CG institutions more than
20% of all students were mature students. These were Newman (ranked 20th of 122 listed universities with
28.7% of mature students); Cumbria (ranked 30th with 25.4%); Canterbury (ranked 35th with 23.9%)
Roehampton (ranked 39th with 23.1%) and Gloucestershire (ranked 52nd with 20.2% mature students). In
only two CG institutions were fewer than 10% of all students mature students; these were St Mark & St John
(3.8%) and Leeds Trinity (1.8%).
The ‘most sporty’ CG institution was Gloucestershire (ranked 35th of 150 institutions listed in this category)
followed by St Mary’s Twickenham (ranked 50th) and Chichester (ranked 51st).
Overall the CG institutions were amongst the lowest recruiters of international (non-EU) students in the UK.
Most international students were recruited by Winchester (ranked 72nd of 122 UK universities where 6% of
enrolled students were international). Other CG institutions where more than 3% of all students were
international students were: St Mark & St John (ranked 84th with 4.9%); Gloucestershire and Roehampton
(jointly ranked 92nd with 3.8% international students); and York St John (ranked 101 of 122 providers with
3.1% international students).
CG institutions scored highly in the three indicators intended to show the social mix of university students
(rankings for the most state school educated admissions; universities with the most working class students
and those with the most middle class students).
Of the 126 universities listed in the table showing the proportion of all students who had been pupils at state
schools, Newman achieved the second highest proportion of state school entrants across the UK (98.8% of
all students). All 13 CG institutions included in this listing recruited more than 93% of their students from
state schools, with Bishop Grosseteste and Chester in joint 20th place across the UK (with 97.4% each).
Amongst the top 20 UK universities recruiting the highest percentage of working class students were Bishop
Grosseteste (7th place with 46.4% of working class students); Newman (10th equal with 44.6%) and Leeds
Trinity (15th place with 42.3% of all students). Eleven of the 13 CG institutions listed in this table recruited
30% or more of all their students from this category.
Only two CG institutions were ranked among the top 50 institutions in terms of recruiting the ‘most middle
class’ students in the UK. These were Chichester (ranked 48th equal with 71.1% middle class students)and
York St John (50th with 71% of students). The CG institutions with the lowest proportion of middle class
students were those with the highest percentages of working class students: Bishop Grosseteste (ranked
120th of 126 institutions with 53.6% of middle class students); Newman (116th equal with 55.4%) and Leeds
Trinity (112th with 57.7%). All other CG institutions listed in this table recruited between 60% and 70%
middle class students).
The highest performing CG institutions in terms of graduate prospects (defined as movement into
professional jobs or graduate study) were Chester (ranked 43rd of 121 universities with 69.4% of all
graduates achieving graduate prospects) and Bishop Grosseteste (ranked 55th with 66.4%).
In terms of student completion rates, five CG institutions were ranked amongst the top 50 UK universities.
These were: Bishop Grosseteste (ranked 31st achieving a completion rate of 91.6%); Chichester (35th equal
and 90.7%); Winchester (42nd and 88.9%); York St John (44th and 88.6%) and St Mark & St John (48th equal
with 87.2%). Six other CG institutions listed in this table achieved a completion rate of 80% or more. Note
that this table reflected a very wide range of range of values across the UK. The top performing university
was Cambridge (with a completion rate of 98.8%) and the lowest was East London (with 62.9%).
In terms of student satisfaction, 3 CG institutions were amongst the top 20 UK universities. These were: St
Marks & St John (ranked 4th equal with 86.3% overall satisfaction); Newman (12th equal with 85.4%) and York
St John (19th with 84.3%).
Highest rated CG institution for graduate salaries was St Mary’s University College Twickenham. This was
ranked 42nd in the UK of the 123 institutions listed in this table showing the highest graduate salaries by
institution, with an average starting salary of £20,296.
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The top rated CG institution for research quality was Roehampton (ranked 57th of 120 universities with 7.7%
of university research output assessed world-leading.
Lowest staff-student ratios were at Chester (ranked 35th of 120 universities with a ratio of 16.3).
This league table also demonstrated that CG institutions offer students good value for money in the price of
student accommodation. The lowest minimum room cost was at Cumbria (8th equal of 117 reported UK
institutions) from £60. Also within the top 30 UK providers were York St John (24th equal with a minimum
room cost of £72); and Chester and Winchester (joint 27th place with a minimum room cost of £73). There
was a wide range of values in this category, with a minimum room cost ranging from £48 at Northampton to
£147 at City University in London.
Three CG universities were listed amongst the top 10 gay friendly universities in the UK, based on
Stonewall’s assessment for whether universities fulfil 10 points based on policies and provision that supports
LGB students. These ere: Canterbury, Chichester and Cumbria (all ranked equal 3rd).