Credible and Rigorous Regulator

What we did

Our strategic aim is to be a credible and rigorous regulator, making clear, evidenced-based and strongly communicated judgements against the Code of Practice for Statistics, and ensuring that statistics producers effectively implement our requirements.

In 2025/26 we published:

• 22 compliance reviews against the Code, including 8 in-depth assessments
• 5 new accreditations
• 7 continuations of existing accreditations
• 2 reaccreditations
• 23 cancelled or suspended accreditations

In spring 2025, we improved how we present lighter-touch reviews, by replacing our usual letters with standard summary templates. This approach, informed by feedback from a public panel, communicates our judgements more directly and unambiguously, allowing for better follow-up and improved clarity and accessibility of our reporting.

To address the increasing number of statistics that we have not reviewed in some time, we began developing a prioritisation tool. Following a successful prototype phase, including triaging around 70 sets of statistics, we will pilot the approach with stakeholders before launching it later in 2026/27.

To help producers assess how well their statistics meet the refreshed Code (launched in late 2025), and to help us manage risks in areas we have not been able to review formally, we made a self-evaluation tool. The tool can also be used by anyone producing data or analysis to help them reflect on their statistics’ compliance. We are supporting uptake through a webinar and learning pack, and early interest has been strong.

Case examples

Assessment and new OS accreditation – NHS England cancer waiting times statistics

In June 2018, the UK Prime Minister asked the National Medical Director of NHS England and NHS Improvement to review the NHS standards for accessing cancer diagnosis and treatment. NHS England publicly consulted on proposed new standards, which then came into effect in October 2023. NHS England made several changes to its official statistics following the introduction of the new standards and requested that OSR conduct a full assessment of the new statistics. Our assessment identified four requirements that must be met before the statistics could be accredited. These requirements included publishing a development plan and comprehensive information about quality and methods, improving the presentation of the statistics, and exploring publishing more granular data. In December 2025, OSR welcomed the actions NHS England had taken to address the four requirements and confirmed that the statistics comply with the Code and should be labelled as Accredited Official Statistics.

Assessment of new OS producer, first assessment under new Code – Medr statistics on higher education, further education, apprenticeships and adult community learning in Wales

Medr was established in August 2024 as an arm’s length body of the Welsh Government. Medr took over a range of responsibilities from the Welsh Government, including the production of official statistics on higher education, further education, apprenticeships and adult community learning. In July 2025, following the change in producer organisation, and because Medr was a new official statistics producer, we agreed to carry out an assessment of Medr’s statistics. In March 2026, we published our assessment report with seven requirements to strengthen the statistics – OSR’s first published assessment against our refreshed Code (Code 3.0). The requirements for Medr focus on publishing statistical policies and statements, improving data quality and expanding quality information, being more transparent about methods where sex and gender identity data are combined, and prioritising website developments. We also recognise that Medr has established a strong foundation as a new official statistics producer and identified many areas of good practice during our assessment. We expect Medr to meet the requirements by March 2027 and to regularly update us on its progress.

De-accreditation – Statistics from the Wealth and Assets survey

In June 2025, OSR suspended the official statistics status of the Wealth and Assets Survey (WAS) following quality concerns identified in its review, alongside a request by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) who produce the statistics. The decision was prompted after a comprehensive review by OSR found that declining response rates and a lack of investment have significantly impacted the quality of the survey data, which measures the financial wellbeing of households across Great Britain. The assessment report identified that despite ONS’s efforts to mitigate pandemic impacts, the statistics “are no longer of sufficient value or quality to meet users’ needs” and therefore no longer comply with the Code. OSR set out 5 requirements that ONS must meet to regain accreditation and ONS provided a progress update in December 2025.

Testimonials