OfS corrects TEF data dashboard calculations, what institutions should check in student experience evidence

Updated Sep 07, 2026

The Office for Students (OfS) records a 5 February 2026 correction to the standard errors used for differences from benchmark in its TEF data. Its update history records the next dashboard version as published on 24 February 2026. The page has since become the TEF and student outcomes data dashboard. OfS dashboard and update history.

Check the warning as well as the release date

At our review on 7 September 2026, the dashboard page still carried a warning about the calculation of standard errors for differences from benchmark. OfS says the issue mainly affects measures with low uncertainty, where estimated uncertainty is too small and the displayed uncertainty bars should be wider. It says a correction will follow later in the year.

A historic correction therefore should not be read as confirmation that every current calculation issue has been resolved. The dashboard combines student-experience measures with continuation, completion and progression data. Analysts should read the current explanation before reusing comparisons. OfS data notice.

A practical check for reporting teams

Our recommendation is to keep the downloaded file, retrieval date and release version with each analysis. Identify any tables or commentary that depend on the difference from benchmark or its estimated uncertainty, and assess whether the current notice changes the interpretation. Do not assume that a newer download automatically removes a warning that remains on the source page.

If an affected comparison has already been used in a committee paper, make the limitation visible to its readers. Keep a short change log explaining which tables were reviewed and whether the conclusion changed. Distinguish a change in the published calculation from a change in students’ experiences.

Student comments can provide context for an experience score, but they do not correct a statistical error or demonstrate what caused a benchmark difference. For related interpretation considerations, see the NSS open-text analysis methodology and comment governance checklist.

Correction and update, 7 September 2026: replaced the unsupported 19 February release statement with the 24 February date in the official update history, and added the warning present at review. The original publication date is unchanged.