The Student Room Group

Norrington Table

I was just wondering what others in the forum think of the Norrington table. :confused: Is it a good way to judge a college? Would you either be encouraged or put off applying to a certain college based on its place in the Norrington table?
I read somewhere that each year, the difference between the top college and the bottom college is only a few firsts. Also, is it reliable - as a college's ranking can vary greatly from one year to the next?

That is all.
Reply 1
Can I see it if you have a link please?
Reply 2
EmJ
I was just wondering what others in the forum think of the Norrington table. :confused: Is it a good way to judge a college? Would you either be encouraged or put off applying to a certain college based on its place in the Norrington table?
I read somewhere that each year, the difference between the top college and the bottom college is only a few firsts. Also, is it reliable - as a college's ranking can vary greatly from one year to the next?

That is all.


Is it a good way to judge a college?
No, but you'd foolish to ignore completely the implications. The spread between colleges isn't huge and there are certainly some inaccuracies. However it does give a rough guide to the academic nature of the colleges. Some colleges are always near the top and some are usually near the bottom. Those in the middle can fluctuate by several places from year to year. It sometimes reveals some interesting things, such as St Annes improved results over the past 2-3 years. Don't pay too much attention to it but it is probably at least as accurate as the university league tables published by newspapers.
Reply 3
mik1a
Can I see it if you have a link please?


Here you go! :biggrin:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8405-814075,00.html
Reply 4
I would be more worried about Van Norden than Norrington :wink:
Reply 5
EmJ
I was just wondering what others in the forum think of the Norrington table. :confused: Is it a good way to judge a college? Would you either be encouraged or put off applying to a certain college based on its place in the Norrington table?
I read somewhere that each year, the difference between the top college and the bottom college is only a few firsts. Also, is it reliable - as a college's ranking can vary greatly from one year to the next?

That is all.


I would be more worried about Van Norden than Norrington :wink:
Reply 6
Fluffy
I would be more worried about Van Norden than Norrington :wink:


I'd really like to know what this means. I know Van Noorden is an Economics tutor at Hertford (he interviewed me!) but I'm guessing that's not what you mean...
Reply 7
RxB
I'd really like to know what this means. I know Van Noorden is an Economics tutor at Hertford (he interviewed me!) but I'm guessing that's not what you mean...


He's the God father of the Evil Van Norden Index - the rate they use to determine rent rises etc. Usually a couple of percent above the rate of inflation. Evil Bursars club!
Reply 8
Fluffy
He's the God father of the Evil Van Norden Index - the rate they use to determine rent rises etc. Usually a couple of percent above the rate of inflation. Evil Bursars club!


Bodes well for tutorials then...
I believe OUSU is quite critical of Norrington (as well as Van Noorden but that's different) because not all colleges submit results to it or something like that and they are pushed lower in the table than their academic should be. Don't worry too much about the Norrington table. It also gives no subject breakdown, so you could go to an excellent college for your subject but a weaker college overall. Instead look for good tutors who specialise in areas of the subject you're really interested in. That's a fat better method.
There are problems with the Norrington Table, and these are just a few of them:

1) As has been mentioned above, the difference between various colleges' positions can come down to a few firsts.

2) The Norrington ranking works on the basis of 1 point for a third, 2 for a 2:2, 3 for a 2:1, and five for a first. Therefore some colleges may appear in the high positions because they push a few people extremely hard to get firsts because there is more to gain from this. Also, there have been rumours of certain colleges threatening to send people down who they think might do badly. Colleges which get a lot of 2:1 and 2:2 results but very few lower than this and relatively few firsts therefore often do badly in the table even though they're actually doing quite well in reality.

3) The positions of various colleges can fluctuate from year to year.

4) Just because your college does well in the Norrington table does not guarantee you a better degree.
Reply 11
hildabeast
There are problems with the Norrington Table, and these are just a few of them:

1) As has been mentioned above, the difference between various colleges' positions can come down to a few firsts.

2) The Norrington ranking works on the basis of 1 point for a third, 2 for a 2:2, 3 for a 2:1, and five for a first. Therefore some colleges may appear in the high positions because they push a few people extremely hard to get firsts because there is more to gain from this. Also, there have been rumours of certain colleges threatening to send people down who they think might do badly. Colleges which get a lot of 2:1 and 2:2 results but very few lower than this and relatively few firsts therefore often do badly in the table even though they're actually doing quite well in reality.

3) The positions of various colleges can fluctuate from year to year.

4) Just because your college does well in the Norrington table does not guarantee you a better degree.


All true and you could also add that it is based on increasingly incomplete data as it is colected 'informally'. Everyone at Oxford condemns it but many use it in some way. Despite its many flaws it does highlight some important academic differences between colleges. It is one way of looking at the colleges that is a bit different to the 'all colleges are the same but in different buildings/location' line that the university seem to favour. Maybe the problem would be solved by an official league table!
Reply 12
My college always comes bottom of the Cambridge table but apparently our exam term is lovely (will be experiencing it next term!) because everyone is so laid back. It's become a bit of a running joke in our college that everyone mentions it... constantly. It manages to slip into innocent (or rather, guilty) emails:

"Also- a small confession- this delightful soiree is what one might call 'illicit'; as in, if the porters find out, then they might tell the Dean, which will lead to a tragic turn events involving none of us graduating, because the man who has to 'vouch for our good character' refuses to do so, and the Varsity headline, 'New Hall Girls Go Jelly Up' or something equally monstrous. And no doubt they'll manage some reference to the fact that we came last in the Tompkins table once again this year."
Reply 13
house badger
I believe OUSU is quite critical of Norrington (as well as Van Noorden but that's different) because not all colleges submit results to it or something like that and they are pushed lower in the table than their academic should be. Don't worry too much about the Norrington table. It also gives no subject breakdown, so you could go to an excellent college for your subject but a weaker college overall. Instead look for good tutors who specialise in areas of the subject you're really interested in. That's a fat better method.


Exactly.
I also think its important to remember that if you are going to rank colleges, there will always be one that has to come out bottom! That is just the nature of ranking.
I have been offered a place at St Hilda's, which is neither at the top nor the bottom of the table, but which is very highly rated for Modern Languages (I'm going to read French).