Will data managers become more vital and more isolated?

From Data Educator: In his latest blog post data Manager Peter (Twitter: @dataeducator) points out 'that the backbone of data for many years is being phased out... Schools are expected to develop their own curriculum and with that they will be expected to measure their own things that define attainment and progress in their setting...'



Put this next to an observation he made in his original blog post: 'It is incredibly rare to find two data managers with the same roles and responsibilities in different schools. Data managers tend to be islands in the fog, not always visible, even within their own setting...'

Put these together and it looks like the data manager is going to become more isolated but more vital.

So is it significant that data is one of the roles likely to be outsourced by AET academies? The publication today of Policy Exchange's paper Watching the Watchmen also looks particularly relevant as it suggests increasing the significance of data in Ofsted inspections.)

In his latest post Peter provides advice on what skills school data managers should focus on and this is his summary 'on data in the current education climate to schools':

• Evaluate your data strategy and facilitate the use of data at all levels. 
• Don’t commit to any one strategy or system for too long. Stay flexible. 
• Reduce data analysis and reporting that you feel has minimal impact/use. 
• Invest further in the skills of your data and IT support staff. 
• Ask yourselves what you want to have, not what you can currently have. 
• Design analysis for impact in the classroom, not just the boardroom.