Education's Hidden Drivers: A Comprehensive Study of Academic Performance Drivers in English Universities

This study explores the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), utility consumption, and student attainment in UK higher education, focusing on Sheffield. Using data from HESA, GOV.UK, and the Office for National Statistics, it combines quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse how IMD-measured deprivation, energy use, and academic outcomes intersect. Stakeholders like local governments, universities, utility firms, and developers can use these insights for infrastructure planning, policy-making, and community development. Key findings reveal a strong link between electricity use and postgraduate success, likely due to intensive research demands, while undergraduate performance is shaped by broader factors beyond just SES or energy consumption. The study highlights the complexity of student achievement and calls for integrated strategies addressing both socioeconomic and infrastructural influences in higher education.