Building Data Capability: Findings, Thoughts and Reflections From the Data Professionals in Education Survey

The ‘Data Leaders Collective’ project supported the aims of the CDDO ‘Roadmap for Digital and Data; ‘to transform public services, deliver world-class technology and attract and retain the best digital talent’.

The challenge facing the education sector to manage data and information is seen as a significant risk at a time when data has become more complex and digital talent scarcer. The daily use of data across the education sector has an impact across all functions including attendance, assessment, curriculum, finance, HR.

The project explored the skills and knowledge of those in the educational sector who use data and explored frameworks and tools that had the potential to be developed to support data capability across the sector. The project provides reflections from the sector to support thinking regarding the way forward.

The purpose of the survey was to gain insight from education data professionals into the current context, challenges and opportunities they are facing regarding data skills, roles, careers pathways and qualifications.

The insights gained from the survey would then be used to stimulate further conversations with data professionals and help shape the focus and direction of the rest of the project.