The Cathedrals Group of Universities

levelling-up learning for 200 years

We believe in

Education for the Whole Person

The Cathedrals Group of universities believe a Higher Education experience is worth so much more than what people earn after graduating.

Emphasising well-being, wisdom and wider potential, alongside academic excellence, we demonstrate how universities can help a greater variety of people and places to thrive.

Whether it's our sector-leading work helping more people into university, the major contribution we make to our changing towns and cities, or our vital role training the nation's key workers - our members are working to create a fairer, wiser, more caring world.

Meet our members

Education for the Whole Person

Powering public services

Inspiring generations of teaching talent

With one in every four new primary school teachers, and nearly one in every seven new secondary school teachers gaining their qualifications at a Cathedrals Group university, our members play a vital role educating the nation's educators. It's not surprising: our members were established by the Church as teacher training colleges, expanding to become diverse and distinguished universities.

   

Learn about our work

Taking action on COVID-19

Supporting the Class of 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic created multiple challenges across all sections of society. Graduates are no different. Finding a job and navigating the responsibilities of adulthood has become even more complex, especially for those who need extra advocacy.

Cathedrals Group universities worked together to understand the help our graduates needed, and provided direct assistance. Our Graduate Careers Fund helped the Class of 2020 from across the country to overcome hardship and break down barriers that could have prevented them from finding work.

Through our shared commitment to lifelong support, we realised the potential of fifteen Careers Teams to work towards a common goal.

Find our more

Supporting the Class of 2020

Shaping our Sector

Regulation, Quality & Funding

The Office for Students (OfS) became the regulator for higher education providers in England in January 2018. However, the mode of operation of the OfS, its lack of transparency, excessive calls for data and limiting definitions of quality triggered significant concerns, including among Cathedrals Group Universities.  

As a result, the Cathedrals Group submitted evidence to an Inquiry into the OfS convened by the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee. In September 2023, The Committee published Must do Better: the Office for Students and the looming crisis facing higher education   - a report that was highly critical of the OfS but also of the Government for failing to identify a sustainable system of higher education funding.

Read our response

Regulation, Quality & Funding