Course Name
Data Basics with Excel
Who is this course for?
This course is perfect for adults who use spreadsheets at work, as a volunteer, or at home, but do not feel confident with them yet. It suits admin staff, small business owners, and job seekers, and you do not need any previous experience with Excel.
Entry Requirements
You should be comfortable using a mouse and keyboard. If you are new to computers, our Digital Tools Part 1 or Digital Everyday Life and Work course is a good place to start. You do not need any previous experience with Excel.
What You Will Learn
By the end of the course you will be able to:
Explain what data is, using everyday examples such as names, numbers, and dates.
Enter and edit data, and turn it into a table.
Sort and filter a table to find what you need.
Use simple formulas such as SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, and COUNT.
Work out the range, which is the gap between the highest and lowest numbers.
Work out a percentage, such as how much of a budget has been spent.
Make a bar, line, or pie chart with a clear title and labels.
Pick out the highest and lowest numbers with colour, also known as conditional formatting.
Name and save your files so you can find them again, and keep personal details out of practice files.
Answer three real questions about a set of data on a one-page summary.
Try your first PivotTable, if you would like an extra challenge.
Course Aim
To help you feel confident using Excel to organise, calculate, and present everyday data, such as a household budget or a work rota.
Course Length
5 weeks, 3 hours per week. 15 hours in total on Monday mornings (January to February 2027).
What You Will Need to Bring
You do not need to bring anything with you. We provide the computers and all the practice files.
How You Will Learn
We will teach you through short screen demonstrations, practical exercises, and friendly group discussions. Your tutor will show you each step on screen first, then you will try it yourself with support whenever you need it. You will practice using everyday examples, such as a household budget or a work rota, and check your answers with a partner. In the final session, you will bring everything together to create a one page summary.
How you will be assessed
There is no formal exam for this course. Each week you will complete short practical tasks, and your tutor will check your work as you go. At the end of the course, you will create a one page summary that answers three questions about a set of data to show what you have learned.
Where Next
This course is a great stepping stone towards further data and computer skills. After completing this course, you can move on to:
Starter Data Analysis and Dashboards
First Steps with Python for Data
Data Project: Survey, Analyse and Present
Will learners gain a qualification?
A Certificate of Completion only
Extra Info
Feel more confident with spreadsheets. You will learn how to enter, sort, and filter data in Excel, use simple formulas such as SUM and AVERAGE, and turn numbers into clear charts. You will practise with everyday examples, like a budget or a work rota, and finish by answering real questions on a one-page summary.
