Pre-release access
Published 22 January 2026
Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales
The phrase ‘Pre-release access’ refers to the practice whereby official statistics in their final form, and any accompanying written commentary, are made available to an eligible person in advance of their publication. The rules and principles which govern pre-release access are featured within the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order 2008.
Estranged students & care leavers: academic years 2017/18 – 2025/26 (effective 31/12/2025)
The following persons are given pre-release access to the publications for up to 24 hours prior to release:
| Student Loans Company (SLC) | Chief Executive |
| Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Executive Director, Corporate Services | |
| Executive Director Customer Operations | |
| Head of Corporate Affairs | |
| Media Relations Manager | |
| Corporate Communications - External (x 2) | |
| Lead Official for Statistics / Senior Business Intelligence Manager | |
| Business Intelligence Manager | |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | |
| Department for Education (DfE) | Deputy Director Higher Education Analysis |
| Head of Student Finance Modelling Unit | |
| Head of SLC Sponsorship | |
| Team Leader – Entrant Modelling and SLC Data Team | |
| Analyst - Higher Education |