The Cathedrals Group of Universities
We believe in
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.
Powering public services
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.
From our Early Years qualifications to our teacher education, from our work in STEM to the arts and creative sector, from our degree apprenticeships and the education of nurses, midwives, paramedics, doctors and other health service staff, our universities are on a mission. With our commitments to social justice and a fairer and more equal society, we believe that students of whatever age and background should be able to progress to higher education, be supported to succeed in their studies and encouraged to contribute to the communities in which they live and work.
This is why we have 5 ‘asks’ of the government elected in July 2024:
1. Improve financial support for students including by restoring maintenance grants.
2. Increase the funding that universities receive in teaching grant.
3. Work with the expert staff in our teacher education departments to expand teacher supply including in specialist subjects, and the retention of teachers in schools.
4. Support the expansion of the NHS and education workforces by improved funding for placements, the provision of bursaries including for those training in rural areas, and by guaranteeing that graduate debt will be written down in return for years worked in these services.
5. Make clear that international students are welcome and encourage them to apply to study in Cathedrals Group and other universities by simplifying the visa application process and reviewing recent increases in visa and other charges.
Shaping our Sector
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.
