Ipsos helps develop new GCSE qualification in Northern Ireland
School pupils in Northern Ireland are to be offered a new GCSE in statistics - part of the north's exams board's growing portfolio of `stem' qualifications - which has been developed in partnership with local employers like Ipsos.
Big Data, statistical analysis and open data were just some of the topics discussed for the launch of a new GCSE in Statistics.
Developed by The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in partnership with local employers, including Ipsos and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), along with further and higher education institutions, GCSE Statistics is a new qualification which draws on real-life scenarios set in a Northern Ireland context, engaging learners and leading them into a variety of career pathways.
Fiona Rooney, Managing Director of Ipsos Northern Ireland, was in attendance at the launch and commented:
Ipsos are delighted to have been involved in the development of the new GCSE Statistics qualification alongside CCEA. This qualification is an excellent introduction to the very topical Big Data and how large quantities of data are used and analysed to reveal trends. It will capture the interest and imagination of learners and give them an insight into the importance of statistics in the real world.
Justin Edwards, CCEA’s CEO commented:
GCSE Statistics is a relevant addition to CCEA’s growing portfolio of STEM qualifications. It enables learners to develop a set of transferable skills that will be of benefit in other GCSE subjects and further study. It also supports the transition to the revised A Level in Mathematics that, for the first time, has a compulsory statistics section.
The NEW GCSE Statistics qualification is available for first teaching in September 2017.
