Lurker on here for a while, and have a DS is final year of a science degree at a RG uni, having had a YII last year.
On the subject of first year being relatively easy for some - whilst DS never had that feeling, he did experience a big jump between 1st and 2nd year.
I remember him commenting in the early stages of Yr 2 that the work had ramped up exponentially. I think, as others have said, Yr 1 is very much to bring everyone up to a similar position from a variety of starting points.
This jump is borne out by problems experienced by DC of some friends/relatives, who did 2nd yr last year.
One is re taking 2nd year, one had to do summer exams in resit period as he had a breakdown at normal exam time having struggled most of the year, a 3rd failed a summer exam, passed resit but now predicted a much lower degree than expected. All 3 are doing science or engineering degrees at top unis, including Durham.
As Newmodel said, no one would be expected to go from A levels to final degree level within months, so it is expected that work will get harder as the years progress.
Having said that, DS has gone back into final year after a year out, and most of his friends who graduated in the summer told him the 2/3 yr jump was not too bad. His main problem this year is that he is missing having his course friends around to bounce ideas off. Something to think about if considering a YII, not many get placements so the ones that do, go back when others have graduated.