When Sophie Cousens was six years old, she visited Sea World in Florida and wanted to study marine biology as a result. Years later, when she was applying to university, Cousens knew she wanted to attend Plymouth University; however, her school advisers did not approve of her choice.

Despite her predicted good A-level grades, her teachers were concerned that Cousens wasn’t pushing herself to the limits of her potential by choosing a course with lower entry requirements. Still, Cousens stood firm: "It was absolutely the right course for me to do," she said.

Many universities in the Russell Group, known for research-excellence and tough entry criteria, did not offer marine biology, and those that did did not appeal to Cousens in the same way that Plymouth did. But she eventually secured a research post at Plymouth, making it clear that a university’s reputation for a particular course is far more important than its overall ranking.

However, the Department for Education has begun collecting data on how many pupils each school sends to Russell Group universities, incentivizing teachers to put the "big brand" universities center stage. This decision has sparked controversy and criticism from groups like the University Alliance, suggesting that the government is potentially feeding "proxy measures of excellence" into league tables and driving schools towards specific universities without considering individual circumstances.

While the Russell Group supports the decision, there are criticisms of the group’s supposed "stellar reputation" and the fact that some of its members are not living up to expectations. Additionally, some argue that universities should be judged by course quality rather than institutional reputation, and that students should choose to attend the university and course that best suit them rather than relying on rankings or league tables.

According to Piatt, excellence is a characteristic present in all Russell Group universities. She believes that each institution provides a world-class education, as well as a focus on research and innovation. Vice-chancellors in the Russell Group agree that a university’s reputation is important for students seeking graduate employment in the competitive job market. Employers often have preconceptions about degrees and the universities that offer them. Steve Smith, from Exeter University, stresses that the institution a student attends can affect their future. He believes that students should aim to attend the best possible university. Piatt supports Smith’s argument, citing the fact that employers actively seek out Russell Group graduates. The group’s graduates can expect, on average, a 10% higher salary than those from other universities. However, Smith cautions that aspiring to attend a Russell Group university isn’t necessarily the right choice for every student. Different institutions have varying strengths and offer different subjects. The Department of Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has been criticized for not acknowledging this nuance. Critics of measuring school performance based on university destinations worry that student individuality will be lost in the process. The University of the West of England is an example of an institution that focuses on practice-based education designed to prepare students for specific jobs. Vice-chancellor Steve West believes that the education system cannot be ‘one size fits all.’ Meanwhile, Paul Layzell of Royal Holloway, University of London, stresses the importance of students finding the right higher education institution for their needs. He believes that crude measures shouldn’t be used to decide on a university.