In the centuries-long debate between Cambridge and Oxford universities – which institution is cooler, smarter, more serious, better – Cambridge has always felt like an afterthought. Students of Oxford are said to be of more robust constitution, well rounded, likable, even better looking. So likable in fact that there has been plenty more novelising about them than their Cantab counterparts. But what Cambridge lacked in romance and charm, it made up for in rigour and academic seriousness. No foppish men in red chinos here – this is the town of study, data, sharp-edged intellect, furrowed brows.

Well, never has an institution done so much to set fire to its own hard-earned reputation. Not since the discovery of the Cambridge Five – that ring of spies fond of passing huge amounts of state secrets to the Soviets during the cold war – has the university seen such protracted attention in the press.

This is the story of Jason Arday, until recently a professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Jesus College, who now stands accused of being a charlatan, fabulist, plagiarist – allegations he denies. Whatever he is, his story does not appear to be evidence of Cambridge’s reputation for rigour.

Here is the potted history: in 2023, at the age of 37, Arday was appointed to a prestigious professorship, off the back of a PhD from Liverpool John Moores, and a stint teaching PE at Leeds Beckett and Roehampton, before moving on........

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