Education: Glossary of Terms
The table below is a guide to the Educational language and terms used in schools and colleges in the U.K:
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AfL |
Assessment for Learning: An approach to teaching and learning that creates feedback which is then used to improve the child’s performance. |
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BTEC |
Business & Technology Education Council: Work-related qualifications offered by many schools and colleges. |
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CATs |
Cognitive Ability Tests: A set of examinations for children aged 7-15, these including both verbal and non-verbal reasoning. |
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DfE |
Department for Education: Responsible for education and children’s services in England. |
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EAL |
English as an Additional Language: Children or young people who don’t speak English as their first language (or may not speak English at all). |
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EYFS |
Early Years Foundation Stage: Sets the standards for children from 3 to 5 years old. Includes child-minders, preschools, nursery provision and school Reception year. |
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GCSE |
General Certificate of Secondary Education: Academic examinations of basic secondary education, generally taken by 14-16 year olds. |
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HLTA |
Higher Level Teaching Assistant: Performs the same duties as a regular teaching assistant but with additional responsibilities, e.g. covering classes for teachers. |
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IEP |
Individual Education Plan: Identifies the special educational needs of a child and the strategies which will enable them to make progress. |
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LA / LEA |
Local Authority / Local Education Authority: Local government with responsibility for education. |
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KS |
Key Stage: The National Curriculum is organised into blocks of years called Key Stages:
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NQT |
Newly Qualified Teacher: A teacher in their first year of teaching, usually supported by a mentor within the school. |
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NVQ |
National Vocational Qualification: A qualification in which students learn practical, work-related tasks which will help them to develop the skills and knowledge needed to perform a job effectively. |
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OFSTED |
Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills: The inspection body for education and children’s care service providers. |
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POS |
Programme of Study: Sets out what should be taught in each subject for each Key Stage. |
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PPA |
Planning, Preparation and Assessment time: 10% of teachers’ time is allocated for this. |
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PPF |
Pupil Premium Funding: Additional funding allocated to schools for children who receive free-school meals. |
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SATs |
Standard Attainment Tests: National Curriculum tests for children in primary schools. Typically taken in Year 2 (KS1) and Year 6 (KS2). |
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SEN(D) |
Special Education Needs (and/or Disability): Provision to support children with learning difficulties or disabilities. |
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STEM |
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths: The term for any subjects which fall under these four categories. |
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TA |
Teaching Assistants: TAs perform many different duties to support both children’s learning and the class teacher in their role, e.g. working with groups of children, supporting children with additional needs, preparing the classroom for lessons and creating displays. |