Page 204 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 2

IPS215 David Y. et al.

Data skills in schools: Teaching Statistics
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1,2
David Young , John Reilly
1 University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
2 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, UK
3 Education Scotland, Glasgow, UK

Abstract
In Scotland, numeracy across learning has been emphasised as a key area of
the Curriculum for Excellence to provide learners with essential analytic,
problem-solving and decision-making skills. The Statistics Award was
developed in collaboration with the Scottish Qualifications Authority and the
University of Strathclyde in an attempt to provide an opportunity for young
people to learn these skills. The emphasis of the course is on the application
of statistics to real-life data and interpretation of results in an appropriate
context. Minitab or R Studio are used for the analysis of data with learning
skills focussed on the application of appropriate statistical methodology and
clear interpretation of results in the context of the research question of
interest. Support materials for teachers and students have been developed
including online resources funded by the Nuffield Foundation’s Q-Step
programme.

Keywords
Teaching; Teaching statistics; Statistical literacy; Statistical software;

1. Introduction
Many organisations are struggling to recruit staff with skills in data science.
It is thought that Scotland needs about 13,000 additional workers each year
to cope with the demand for data skills [1]. Two of Scotland’s universities have
launched a drive to train 100,000 Scots in data skills over the next decade in
an effort to transform the country into the ‘data capital of Europe’.
The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) has called on the UK government to
recognise the value of data and the importance of having the capability to use
it [2]. The growth in data collected by technology will play a huge part in the
economy of our country and in our personal lives. Investment in education
and training to support industry growth is the only way to tackle the gap in
skills and preparation to make use of the information stored in data needs to
start in early school.
The Making Maths Count Group was set up by the Scottish Government
to consider ways of improving confidence and fluency in maths and numeracy
for children, young people, parents and those who deliver maths education,

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