I know it's not a true anecdote as no one is allowed to fail these days. When I used to fail a student, I'd never hear the end of it. So the code for fail now is just scraping a pass. That's someone who should have failed. Lecturers don't have time to have endless arguments over failing so they just do that.
Some of these students can barely read or write English, yet still pass. There is absolutely no way a fee-paying international student can fail. Believe you me - absolutely no way. Lecturers or support staff have to write the essays for them and tell them what's in the exam in the end. Now you could say it's due to the way social liberal society has no losers - you all get a medal. But it's not. It's down to league tables, funding and even keeping your job. You are openly threatened if you fail students.