A basic understanding of statistical ideas, and especially the idea of statistical modelling involving exposure to statistical data analysis, is as fundamental to an understanding of modern society and its artefacts as is language literacy. Thus, statistics should become a central feature of the mathematics curriculum. This implies, among other things, that teachers of mathematics have to involve themselves and their students in genuine real-life problems. This article sets out a vision for the general nature of the statistics curriculum in the medium to long term.