Digital Download 

Databases and Spreadsheets

The Backbone of Everyday Data 4th edition 

Spreadsheets (like Excel) are flexible tools for smaller data sets — budgets, timetables, quick calculations. Databases are more powerful systems built to store and manage much larger, structured data, powering the apps and websites we use daily, from banking to school portals to online shopping.

Both play a critical role in decision-making: spreadsheets help individuals and small groups spot patterns and test scenarios, while databases keep large organisations running reliably and securely. Poor organisation in either can cause real problems, from simple errors to major system failures, making accuracy and structure genuinely important skills.

Bottom line: spreadsheets and databases turn raw information into something organised and useful — and strong data skills are increasingly valuable across almost every career, not just IT.

Ms Cathie Webber

Information Technology and Maths Teacher