Glossary
| A-level |
Advanced level |
| A2 |
the second part of an A-level qualification |
|
AAIA |
Association for Achievement and Improvement through Assessment |
|
academy |
A publicly funded self-governing school that provides free education to pupils of all abilities (can be primary, secondary or special) |
| ACAS |
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service |
|
ACE |
Advisory Centre for Education |
| ACE | Arts Council England |
|
Access courses |
courses designed to prepare those without A-levels for the challenges of higher education |
|
ACF |
Association of Charitable Foundations |
|
ADD |
attention deficit disorder |
|
ADHD |
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
|
ADSBM |
Advanced Diploma of School Business Management |
|
AfL |
assessment for learning |
|
Afasic |
national charity that supports children and young people with speech, language and communication impairment |
| AIRMIC | Association for insurance and risk management professionals |
| ALARM | The National Forum for Risk Management in the Public Sector |
| AMiE | Association of Managers in Education |
|
AoL |
assessment of learning |
|
APP |
assessing pupils' progress |
|
APS |
average point score |
|
AQA |
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance |
| ARA |
Assessment and Reporting Arrangements |
| AS-level | advanced subsidiary level |
|
ASCL |
Association of School and College Leaders |
|
ASD |
autistic spectrum disorder |
|
ASL |
additional and specialist learning |
|
Aspect |
Association of Professionals in Education and Children's Trusts |
|
AST |
advanced skills teacher |
|
ATL |
Association of Teachers and Lecturers |
|
ATM |
Association of Teachers of Mathematics |
|
BATOD |
British Association of Teachers of the Deaf |
|
BCS |
The Chartered Institute for IT |
|
BESD |
behavioural, emotional and social difficulties |
|
BEST |
behaviour and education support team |
|
BG |
British Gymnastics |
|
BIP |
Behaviour Improvement Programme |
| BIS | Department for Business, Innovation and Skills |
|
BITC |
Business in the Community |
|
BME |
black and minority ethnic |
|
BREEAM |
building research establishment environmental assessment method |
|
BSQM |
Basic Skills Quality Mark |
|
BSL |
British Sign Language |
|
CAB |
Citizens Advice Bureau |
|
CABE |
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment |
|
CAF |
common assessment framework |
|
CAF |
Charities Aid Foundation |
|
CAMHS |
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services |
| CASPA | comparison and analysis of special pupil attainment |
| CAT | cognitive abilities test |
| CC |
Charity Commission |
|
CCEA |
Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment |
|
CEDP |
career entry and development profile |
|
CEME |
Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence |
| CEOP | Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre |
|
CF |
cystic fibrosis |
|
CfBT Education Trust |
charitable trust providing education consultancy and services |
|
CFR |
consistent financial reporting |
|
CHSWG |
Children’s Hearing Services Working Group |
| CIL | child-initiated learning |
|
CILT |
The National Centre for Languages |
|
CLC |
city learning centre |
| CLEAPSS |
Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Services |
|
CLT |
chartered London teacher status |
|
cluster |
group of schools that comes together for a particular purpose |
| CofE/CE | Church of England |
|
community school |
A state school in England and Wales that is wholly owned and maintained by the local authority (LA). The LA has main responsibility for deciding arrangements for admitting pupils |
|
community special school |
the special school equivalent of a community school. Such a school caters wholly or mainly for children with statutory statements of special educational needs |
| COSHH | control of substances hazardous to health |
|
CoVE |
Centre of Vocational Excellence |
|
CPD |
continuing professional development |
|
CPIS |
Children's Play Information Service |
|
CSBM |
Certificate of School Business Management |
|
CSCI |
Commission for Social Care Inspection |
|
CTC |
city technology college |
| CTF |
common transfer file |
|
CYPP |
children and young people's plan |
| DATA | Design and Technology Association |
|
D&T |
design and technology |
| DBS | Disclosure and Barring Service |
|
DCSF |
Department for Children, Schools and Families (now DfE) |
|
DDA |
Disability Discrimination Act |
|
DED |
disability equality duty |
|
DENI |
Department of Education (Northern Ireland) |
| DES | disability equality scheme |
|
DFC |
devolved formula capital |
| DfE | Department for Education |
| DH | Department of Health |
| Diocese | the area to which a bishop's jurisdiction extends (only applicable to Catholic and CofE schools) |
|
DME |
dual or multiple exceptionality |
| DPA |
Data Protection Act |
|
DQI |
design quality indicator |
|
DSBM |
Diploma of School Business Management |
|
DSE |
display screen equipment |
| DSG | dedicated schools grant |
|
EAL |
English as an additional language |
|
EAZ |
education action zone |
| EBacc |
English Baccalaureate |
|
EBD |
emotional and behavioural difficulties |
|
EBITT |
employment-based initial teacher training |
|
EBP |
education business partnership |
|
EBTTS |
employment-based teacher training scheme |
|
ECM |
Every Child Matters |
|
EEA |
European Economic Area |
| EFA | Education Funding Agency |
|
EHP |
Early Headship Provision |
|
EHRC |
Equality and Human Rights Commission |
|
ELCI |
Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance |
|
EMAS |
ethnic minority achievement service |
|
EPPI-Centre |
Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre |
|
EPS |
Education Psychology Service |
|
ESD |
education for sustainable development |
| EVC | educational visits coordinator |
|
extended school |
a school that provides a range of services and activities often beyond the school day to help meet the needs of its pupils, their families and the wider community |
|
EWO |
education welfare officer |
|
EWS |
education welfare service |
| EYFS | Early Years Foundation Stage |
| EYTS | early years teacher status |
| EYR | Early Years Register |
|
FE |
further education |
|
federation (hard) |
A formal agreement by which two or more schools share a single governing body |
| federation (soft) | A formal agreement by which two or more schools share elements of governance or establish a joint strategic committee, whilst retaining their individual governing bodies |
|
FEI |
further education institution |
|
FFT |
Fischer Family Trust |
|
FLT |
Foundation Learning Tier |
|
FM |
facilities management |
| FOIA |
Freedom of Information Act |
|
foundation school |
A school whose governing body is responsible for employment and admissions arrangements. The land and buildings are owned by the governing body or charitable foundation |
|
foundation special school |
A foundation school that caters wholly or mainly for children with statutory statements of special educational needs |
| free school |
An all-ability, independent, non-profiting making, state-funded school |
|
FSM |
free school meals |
| GAG | General annual grant |
|
GCSE |
General Certificate of Secondary Education |
| GEAP | gender equality action plan |
|
GED |
gender equality duty |
| GES | gender equality scheme |
|
GIA |
gender impact assessment |
|
GLH |
guided learning hours |
|
GMB |
Britain’s general union |
|
GNVQ |
General National Vocational Qualification |
|
GRT |
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller |
|
GRTP |
Graduate and Registered Teacher Programmes. A collective term for the GTP and the RTP |
|
GSA |
Girls' Schools Association |
| G&T | gifted and talented |
|
GTP |
Graduate Teacher Programme |
|
GTTR |
Graduate Teacher Training Registry |
|
HLTA |
higher level teaching assistant |
|
HMCI |
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills |
|
HMI |
Her Majesty's Inspector |
|
HND |
Higher National Diploma |
|
HPA |
Health Protection Agency (now Public Health England) |
|
HPSS |
High Performing Specialist School |
|
HSE |
Health and Safety Executive |
| ICO | Information Commissioner's Office |
|
ICT |
information and communication technology |
| IEB | interim executive board |
|
IEP |
individual education plan |
|
IiP |
Investors in People |
|
ILS |
integrated learning systems |
|
IMS |
information management system |
|
INSET |
in-service education and training |
|
IoE |
Institute of Education |
|
IPC |
International Primary Curriculum |
| IQM | Inclusion Quality Mark |
|
ISR |
individual school range |
| IRM | Institute of Risk Management |
| IRMS |
Information and Records Management Society |
|
ITE |
initial teacher education |
|
ITT |
initial teacher training |
|
IWB |
interactive whiteboard |
| JACT | Joint Association of Classical Teachers |
|
KS1/2/3/4/5 |
Key Stages 1/2/3/4/5 |
|
LA |
local authority |
| LACSEG | Local authority central spend equivalent grant |
|
leadership group |
headteachers, deputy heads, assistant heads, bursars and others as decided by the headteachers and/or the governors |
|
LEP |
local education partnership |
|
LGA |
Local Government Association |
|
LLP |
Lifelong Learning Programme |
|
LSA |
learning support assistant |
|
LSCB |
local safeguarding children board |
|
LSU |
learning support unit |
|
LTL |
Learning through Landscapes |
|
MA |
The Mathematical Association |
|
MBF |
The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation |
| MFG | minimum funding guarantee |
|
MFL |
modern foreign languages |
|
middle school |
A school with KS2 and KS3 pupils. Depending on the age balance of those pupils, the school can be deemed primary or secondary |
|
MIS |
Management Information System |
|
MLE |
managed learning environment |
| MLD |
moderate learning difficulties |
|
MPS |
main pay scale |
|
NACE |
National Association for Able Children in Education |
|
Naace |
the professional association to advance education through ICT |
|
NAHT |
National Association of Head Teachers |
| NALD | National Association for Literature Development |
|
NAPLIC |
National Association of Professionals concerned with Language Impairment in Children |
|
NAPTA |
The National Association of Professional Teaching Assistants |
|
NAS |
The National Autistic Society |
| NASBM | National Association of School Business Management |
|
Nasen |
formerly the National Association for Special Educational Needs |
|
NASUWT |
teachers’ union |
|
NATE |
National Association for the Teaching of English |
| National College | The National College for Teaching and Leadership |
| NatSIP | National Sensory Impairment Partnership |
|
NC |
National Curriculum |
| NCA | National Curriculum Assessment |
| NCB | National Children's Bureau |
|
NCPC |
National Crime Prevention Council |
|
NatCen |
National Centre for Social Research |
|
NDCS |
National Deaf Children’s Society |
|
NDPB |
non-departmental public body |
| NFER |
National Foundation for Educational Research |
|
NGA |
National Governors’ Association |
|
NGN |
Nurture Group Network |
| NHS | National Health Service |
| NLE | National Leader of Education |
|
NOR |
number on roll |
|
NPQH |
National Professional Qualification for Headship |
|
NPQICL |
National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership |
|
NQT |
newly qualified teacher |
|
NSPCC |
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children |
|
NSS |
National Support School |
|
NUT |
National Union of Teachers |
|
NVQ |
National Vocational Qualification |
| OCR | Ofsted Childcare Register |
|
OCR |
Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations |
| OEAP |
Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel |
|
Ofsted |
Office for Standards in Education |
|
OGC |
Office of Government Commerce |
| OPSI | Office of Public Sector Information |
|
OSC |
Office of the Schools Commissioner |
|
OTT |
overseas trained teacher |
|
OTTP |
Overseas Trained Teacher Programme |
|
OU |
Open University |
| PAN |
published admission number |
| PAT | pupil achievement tracker |
|
PCSO |
police community support officer |
|
PE |
physical education |
|
PECS |
picture exchange communication system |
| PEEP | personal emergency evacuation plan |
| PFEG | Personal Finance Education Group |
|
PfH |
Partnerships for Health |
|
PFI |
private finance initiative |
|
PGCE |
Postgraduate Certificate in Education |
| PHE | Public Health England |
|
PHMEG |
Public Health Medicine Environmental Group |
|
PLASC |
Pupil Level Annual Schools Census |
|
PLTS |
personal, learning and thinking skills |
|
PM |
performance management |
|
PMLD |
profound and multiple learning difficulties |
|
PPA |
preparation, planning and assessment (time) |
|
PPD |
postgraduate professional development |
|
PPP |
public private partnership |
|
PPS |
parent partnership service |
|
PRP |
performance-related pay |
|
PRU |
pupil referral unit |
|
PSA |
parent support adviser |
| PSED |
Public Sector Equality Duty |
|
PSHE |
personal, social and health education |
|
PSHEE |
personal, social, health and economic education |
|
PSP |
pastoral support programme |
|
PTA |
Parent Teacher Association |
| PTA-UK | National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations |
| QAN | qualification accreditation number |
| QCF | Qualifications and Credit Framework |
|
QTS |
qualified teacher status |
|
RAISEonline |
Reporting and Analysis for Improvement through school Self-Evaluation. An interactive system that allows users to analyse school and pupil performance data |
|
RAP |
raising attainment plan |
|
Respect |
a cross-government strategy to address anti-social behaviour |
|
RIDDOR |
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations |
|
RIPA |
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act |
|
RMS |
Records Management Society |
|
RoSPA |
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents |
| RPA | raising the participation age |
|
RPA |
regional provider of assessment |
|
RSA |
Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce |
|
RSC |
Royal Society of Chemistry |
|
RTT |
Return to Teaching programme |
| SACRE |
Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education |
|
SAI |
Schools Access Initiative |
| SCITT |
school-centred initial teacher training |
| SCR | single central record |
|
SDP |
school development plan |
|
SEAL |
social and emotional aspects of learning |
|
SEF |
self-evaluation framework/form |
|
SEN |
special educational needs |
|
SENCO |
special educational needs co-ordinator |
| SEND | special educational needs and disability |
| SES | single equality scheme |
| SES | socio-economic status |
|
SIAMS |
statutory inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools |
|
SIP |
school improvement plan |
|
SIP |
school improvement partner |
|
SLCN |
speech, language and communication needs |
| SLD |
severe learning difficulties |
|
SLT |
senior leadership team |
| SMSC |
spiritual, moral, social and cultural |
|
SMT |
senior management team |
|
SRB |
single regeneration budget |
|
SSAT |
Specialist Schools and Academies Trust |
| STA |
Standards and Testing Agency |
|
STPCD |
School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document |
|
STRB |
School Teachers’ Review Body |
|
TA |
teaching assistant |
|
TEACCH |
Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children |
| Teaching Agency |
agency responsible for initial teacher training. On 1 April 2013 the Teaching Agency and the National College for School Leadership merged to form the National College for Teaching and Leadership |
| Teaching school |
A school offering school-centred initial teacher training |
|
TES |
Times Educational Supplement |
|
TES |
traveller education service |
|
TLR |
teaching and learning responsibility |
|
TNA |
training needs analysis |
| TOIL | time off in lieu |
|
TSN |
Teacher Support Network |
|
TYS |
Targeted Youth Support |
|
UNISON |
the public service union |
|
Unite the Union |
trade union that resulted from the merging of Amicus and Transport and General Workers' Union |
|
VA |
value added |
|
VA school |
voluntary aided school. Maintained by the LA, for which a foundation (generally religious) appoints most of the governing body |
|
VC school |
voluntary controlled school. Maintained by the LA, for which a foundation (generally religious) appoints some, but not most, of the governing body |
|
VFM |
value for money |
|
VLE |
virtual learning environment |
|
Voice |
The union for education professionals |
| WRL |
work-related learning |