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Merton reclaims Norrington Table top spot

Merton College has achieved first place in the 2010-11 Norrington Table, the annual ranking which lists Oxford colleges according to finalists’ results. Merton has come first in seven out of the last ten Norrington Tables, making it by far the most successful college in recent times.

Merton is followed by Christ Church – up from 7th place last year – and New, up from 5th place.

Magdalen, which topped last year’s table, has dropped three places to 4th, while Corpus Christi, 2nd place last year, has dropped to 15th in this year’s ranking.

The biggest improvement has been made by Mansfield, which was second to last in 2009-10, but has risen 17 places to 12th in this year’s table. Meanwhile, Oriel, 11th place last year, is second to last in this year’s rankings. Harris Manchester is in last place, marking the eighth time in the last decade that it has claimed the bottom position.

The Norrington Table is created by awarding points to each student according to their results in Finals – 5 points for a 1st Class degree; 3 points for a 2:1; 2 points for a 2:2, and 1 point for a 3rd. To compensate for the varying size of colleges, the total number of points is divided by that college’s virtual “perfect score” (i.e. what the college would have scored if every finalist had achieved a 1st), and expressed as a percentage.

The table released this week is based on interim figures; the final table will be compiled in September, once any appeals have been settled.

The University stressed on Tuesday that the Norrington Table is not necessarily a reliable indication of college ranking, saying: “It should be noted when interpreting the data that the number of students per college is relatively small and the rankings are therefore of limited statistical significance.”

The Norrington Table as it currently stands is as follows:

1. Merton 75.06% 
2. Christ Church 73.94% 
3. New 73.93% 
4. Magdalen 73.62% 
5. Hertford 73.52% 
6. Worcester 73.22%
7. Wadham 72.85% 
8. Jesus 71.79% 
9. Exeter 70.89% 
10. St John’s 70.74% 
11. Brasenose 70.72% 11
12. Mansfield 70.00% 12
= Pembroke 70.00% 12
= University 70.00% 12
15. Corpus Christi 69.86% 15
16. Lincoln 69.20% 16
17. Trinity 68.84% 17
18. Balliol 68.27% 18
19. Keble 68.00% 19
20. St Anne’s 68.00% 19
21. St Hilda’s 68.00% 19 
22. Queen’s 67.64% 22
23. St Hugh’s 67.38% 23 
24. Somerville 67.27% 24
25. LMH 67.07% 25
26. St Catherine’s 66.41% 26
27. St Edmund Hall 66.24% 27
28. St Peter’s 65.86% 28
29. Oriel 65.58% 29 
30. Harris Manchester 60.00% 30

1. Merton 75.06% 

2. Christ Church 73.94% 

3. New 73.93% 

4. Magdalen 73.62% 

5. Hertford 73.52% 

6. Worcester 73.22%

7. Wadham 72.85% 

8. Jesus 71.79% 

9. Exeter 70.89% 

10. St John’s 70.74% 

11. Brasenose 70.72%

12. Mansfield 70.00% 

  Pembroke 70.00% 

  University 70.00% 

15. Corpus Christi 69.86% 

16. Lincoln 69.20% 

17. Trinity 68.84% 

18. Balliol 68.27% 

19. Keble 68.00% 

20. St Anne’s 68.00%

21. St Hilda’s 68.00%

22. Queen’s 67.64%

23. St Hugh’s 67.38%

24. Somerville 67.27%

25. LMH 67.07%

26. St Catherine’s 66.41%

27. St Edmund Hall 66.24%

28. St Peter’s 65.86%

29. Oriel 65.58%

30. Harris Manchester 60.00%

 

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