The University of Sussex dropped in the latest Guardian ranking, published on 22 May, as assessment and feedback scores from the 2011 National Student Survey (NSS) kicked in.

The Guardian University Guide accompanying the league tables gave a glowing write-up, noting Sussex’s “excellent academic reputation” and its” innovative approaches to teaching and learning”.

Analysis of the data in the tables showed that Sussex is firmly in the top 10 for both students’ overall satisfaction, as measured by the NSS, and for how much students benefit from coming to Sussex (the “value-added” measure used by the Guardian).

These are offset, however, by the heavy weighting the Guardian chooses to give to “assessment and feedback” in the 2011 NSS, where Sussex fell back after two years of sustained progress, leading to a fall in the overall table– from 11^th to 27^th.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), Professor Clare Mackie, said: “We do not believe this 27^th place (out of 120 UK universities) is an accurate reflection of the high-quality education that the University of Sussex provides.

“Our focus will continue to be on further developing the high-quality teaching and learning and research which Sussex provides to over 12,000 students from the UK and overseas.”

She made clear, however, that Sussex is already committed to improving assessment and feedback and that the table reinforces the need for the changes that Sussex has already put in place.

“We will have a new structure this coming academic year, introducing an exam period in the middle of the year as well as continuing with the traditional one at the end of the year.

“We have now completely reformed how we manage our assessment and feedback, which should make a significant difference to our students - and, if those changes are successful, then to our standing in league tables, which draw on students’ own opinions in the NSS.”