Glossary
The glossary below provides snapshot definitions for some terms and acronyms specific to education.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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A non-compulsory qualification normally first gained at the age of 18, but without a formal age limit. Available in many subjects. Two or three A levels are often used to meet university entrance requirements. See Assessment for more information. |
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Academic year |
Year running from September to September of the following year. The school year starts in September and most other courses start in September or October. |
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Academies |
Publicly funded, non-selective secondary schools. They have the freedom to implement innovative approaches to management, governance, teaching and curriculum. They are established in disadvantaged areas - either as new schools or to replace poorly performing schools - and play an important role in breaking the link between poor social circumstance and underachievement. See More on academies for more information. |
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Apprenticeship |
A form of vocational training that enables people to earn money while they learn new skills in an industry in which they wish to have a career. Apprenticeships are a good route for those who know what sort of career they want to enter and would like to earn money while they train. Visit Assessment for more information. |
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AS level |
Qualification equal to one half of an A level. An AS level can be either a free-standing qualification or valued as the first half of the full A level. At the end of the AS year, students have two options: take the AS level qualification only, or continue to the second year and complete the full A level. Visit Assessment for more information. |
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Assessment |
The process of documenting - usually in measurable terms - knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs. |
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First degree usually obtained after three years or more of full-time study (usually at university). |
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BitC (Business in the Community) |
A membership organisation that mobilises business for good. They inspire, engage, support and challenge their member businesses to improve their positive impact on society. Visit www.bitc.org.uk for more information. |
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BTEC certificate and Diploma |
Vocational qualifications available at various levels. See Assessment. |
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Some admission authorities give priority to children who live in an area around the school. |
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City technology colleges (CTCs) |
State-funded, all-ability secondary schools that charge no fees but are independent of local authority control. Instead, they are overseen by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). They have been encouraged to turn into academies and there are now only three CTCs left in the country. See Other types of schools for more information. |
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Community schools |
State schools in England and Wales which are wholly owned and maintained by the local authority. Community schools look to develop strong links with the local community, sometimes offering use of their facilities and providing services such as childcare and adult learning classes. For more information, see Main types of schools. |
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Core subjects |
Compulsory subjects or modules as opposed to optional subjects or courses. |
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DfES |
Department for Education and Skills (replaced by DCSF and BIS - Department for Business, Innovation and SKills). |
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Diplomas |
Qualifications that offer students a more practical, hands-on way of gaining the essential skills that employers and universities look for. Visit Assessment for more information. |
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EdExcel |
Examination board that validates some vocational qualifications. |
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Employee |
Any person that is hired (employed) by an employer to do a specific job. |
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Employer |
A person or organisation that employs people to work as employees. |
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Every Child Matters (ECM) |
A Government initiative that aims to improve the well-being of children from birth to age 19 by lifting them out of poverty and improving outcomes for them and their families. To achieve these aims, the Government has arranged for organisations involved in children's services (from hospitals and schools to police and voluntary groups) to work together and share information. See Latest policies and approaches for more information. |
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Extended schools |
Schools that help to deliver Every Child Matters. They work with the local authority and other partners to offer access to a range of services and activities which support and motivate children and young people to achieve their full potential. The schools are open throughout the school day and beyond, at weekends and during school holidays to provide these extended services. |
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Types of voluntary school. They have a particular religious character or formal links with a religious organisation. See Main types of schools for more information. |
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Foundation schools |
Schools that are state funded but run by their own governing body. See Main types of schools. |
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Free School Meals (FSM) |
Commonly used as an indicator of deprivation. Children are eligible if their parent or guardian receives Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit, and has a family income for tax credit purposes at or below a certain level. |
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Further Education (FE) |
Education for students aged 16 or older (when education is no longer compulsory). See Post-16 education for more information. |
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General Certificate of Secondary Education. The first (compulsory) qualification obtained by students at the age of about 16. There is no age limit, and mature or international students may take GCSE examinations. See Assessment for more information. |
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Governor/governing bodies |
School governing bodies run all state schools. They work with the head teacher and senior management team to ensure students get a good education and to raise standards of student education. Visit Governing for more information. |
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Graduation |
Successful completion of a course or degree. Also the ceremony where students are officially given their awards. |
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Education for students aged 18 or older. See Post-16 education for more information. |
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Honours |
Bachelor's Degrees are generally awarded as honours degrees in one of three classes: First, Second or Third, depending on the overall marks awarded. |
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Information and Communications Technology - a compulsory subject for primary and secondary school students. |
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IEBE |
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Independent schools |
Schools that are not funded by the state and obtain most of their finances from fees paid by parents and income from investments. See Other types of schools for more information. |
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International Baccalaureate (IB) |
A two-year course approximately equal to three A levels. It is available in many countries including the UK, and is accepted as an entry qualification by British universities. At present however, the IB is generally only offered in independent schools. |
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See Transferable skills [Link to transferable skills below] |
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Key Stage |
A description and measurement of students' progress through school. See Understanding the education system for more information. |
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League tables |
Comparative performance tables for schools that are published each year. The tables report achievements in public examinations and vocational qualifications for secondary schools and achievements of students at the end of Key Stage 2 for primary schools. |
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Local authorities (LAs) |
Provide a wide range of services to support schools. See Key educational organisations for more information. |
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LSC (Learning and Skills Council) |
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Any school funded, directly or indirectly, by the state. See Types of schools for more information. |
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Mentoring |
Linking young people with a mentor from the local business community, so that the young person can build their self-confidence, discuss their problems and issues and appreciate the relevance of learning to their lives. See Being a mentor for more information. |
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MFL |
Modern Foreign Languages |
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MLD |
Mild learning difficulties |
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Covers what students should be taught in state maintained schools, to ensure that all students in compulsory education receive consistent teaching standards. The National Curriculum is divided into four Key Stages according to age. Go to Understanding the education system for more information. |
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National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) |
Vocational/work-based qualifications, which are suitable for students who want to learn more about a particular job or area of work. Students are generally trained in the workplace rather than the classroom. There are no age limits and no special entry requirements to taking NVQs. Other forms of vocational assessment are also available. See Assessment for more information. |
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NCEE |
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NCSL |
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Compulsory education that covers all students aged 5-11. See Primary education for more information. |
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Pupil referral units (PRUs) |
Schools established and maintained by a local authority to provide education for children of a compulsory school age who may not otherwise receive suitable education. See Other types of schools for more information. |
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Under the National Curriculum system, all students undergo SATs in core subjects towards the end of studying Key Stages 1 and 2. Teachers assess the students' tests. |
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Secondary education |
Compulsory education that covers all students aged 11-16. See Secondary education for more information. |
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Special Educational Needs (SEN) statements |
Statements that describe any learning difficulties that students have and specify the extra help or equipment they need. Schools called special schools usually take children with particular types of special needs, but not all SEN children require special schools: some will continue to attend mainstream schools that have provision for children with particular needs. See Other types of schools for more information. |
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Special schools |
Schools that take children with statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN). See Special Educational Needs in the glossary and go to Other types of schools for more information. |
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Specialist schools |
Schools that receive extra funding to develop one or two subjects in which the school specialises. Nearly 90% of state secondary schools are specialist schools. They meet full National Curriculum requirements but have a particular focus on their chosen specialism(s). See Focus on specialist schools for more information. |
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SSCs |
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SSCs (Sector Skills Councils) |
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Sustainable schools |
Schools that are guided by the principles of care: care for oneself; care for others; and care for the environment. See the Sustainable Schools website fore more information. |
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Term |
Period of continuous study without holidays. In UK schools, the academic year is normally split into three terms. |
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Transferable skills |
These are sometimes known as Key Skills and are skills that are learnt in one environment which are useful in another. These skills can be learnt in a variety of settings and activities, e.g. training schemes, voluntary work, colleges and universities. |
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Trust schools |
Schools that are state funded but run by their own governing body. They differ from foundation schools because they also form a charitable trust with an outside party - such as a business. See Types of schools for more information. |
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Trust schools |
Schools that are state funded but run by their own governing body. See Main types of schools. |
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Career-specific courses and training. The course relates to a specific area of employment or industry sector. Vocational courses are more practical and skills focused then academic courses; many include work-related projects or work experience. |
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Voluntary schools |
There are two types of voluntary school - voluntary aided and voluntary controlled. Both are maintained by the local authority, but a foundation usually owns the land and buildings and appoints most or all of the governing body. See Main types of schools for more information. Faith schools are a type of voluntary school. |
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The time that a student gets in an adult working environment as if they are an employee, with an emphasis on learning about the world of work. Work experience in schools normally takes place in Year 10 and lasts for approximately two weeks. Most students do not get paid for their time doing work experience, as it is considered to be part of their education. See Providing work experience for more information. |