In response to our rebuttal of the Penty report's conclusion (see below), the University in its Grace of 12 June 2024 admits: "The Council accepts that there are difficulties in attempting to conclusively demonstrate the effect of Cambridge’s EJRA on vacancies. In part these arise from a high degree of volatility in the data compounded by the small sample sizes inherent in comparing a single institution with only 22 others. Nevertheless, any attempt to predict the effect of abolishing the EJRA on Cambridge academic faculty hiring must make a number of assumptions and estimates, not least concerning the future retirement patterns of academic staff at Cambridge should there be no compulsory retirement. The Council remains of the view that the detailed methodology used by the Review Group, which draws on actual retirement experience at Cambridge and elsewhere, and which is backed up by an independent peer review, remains a robust attempt at such a prediction."

The Council has agreed to put Abolish EJRA on the ballot here. The notice says "The Council is content that, if the amendment were to be approved in the ballot, it would be possible for its immediate impacts to be managed and for other implications to be considered over the longer term without any major disruption to the operations of the University. Most changes resulting from the abolition of the EJRA would be cultural – setting expectations, standards and norms – and these could be introduced over time. Providing additional tools for Heads of Department, to manage their staff more effectively, would be necessary but also a sensible step in any case. Those tools could draw on examples of good practice from across the University, where some institutions have already introduced their own ways to support the development of their staff. Institutions could be encouraged to adopt better practices because they result in better relationships. Also, proposals for changes to the provisions that aim to protect academic freedom are likely to be presented in due course as part of a review of the disciplinary procedure for officers." 

Read a letter signed by 120 professors at Cambridge University to the Vice Chancellor Debbie Prentice to signal the strength of negative feeling among the senior staff over the unacceptable policy of EJRA.