Statistics is about making decisions when there is uncertainty. Perhaps one of the most versatile areas of maths, it gives students the skills to collect, analyse, interpret and present data.

It complements subjects such as Biology, Psychology, Geography, Business, Economics and Sports Science, and opens the door to a variety of careers from weather forecasting to the biological sciences.

The course is a two year course, where students are taught each stage of the statistical enquiry cycle from planning and processing to evaluating. Students are taught to be analytical and question data; its source and the validity of the processing. Students undertake independent statistical enquiry throughout the course.

All students will require a scientific calculator and a selection of geometry equipment.

• Planning for collecting, recording and processing data
• Opportunities, constraints and implications of analysing data
• Methods to visualise data
• Statistical measures to compare data
• Interpreting results and evaluating the validity and reliability of statistical findings
• Statistical enquiry cycle
• Analysis of events governed by Probability

The entire course is examined at the end of Year 11. There are two papers each lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. There are two tiers of entry, Higher where students will be awarded grades within the range of 4 to 9 and Foundation where students will be awarded grades 1 to 5.

• Paper 1 – Calculators are allowed
• Paper 2 – Calculators are allowed

Studying GCSE Statistics would support studying A-level Mathematics at Bourne Academy Sixth Form.

GCSE Statistics allows students to develop a wide range of skills that will be desirable in many careers, such as; finance and banking, advertising and market research, supports careers in Psychology, Geography and all Sciences and Social Sciences. Statistics will support the learning of GCSE Mathematics as there is some overlap in content.