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6s & 7s an early intervention programme to improve the social and emotional well-being of six and seven year olds in primary schools (www.net6s7s.net)
Academy A type of school established by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups working in partnerships with central Government and local education partners, with the aim of delivering real improvements in standards ACEAdvisory Centre for Education – an independent advice centre for parents and carers, offering information about state funded education in England and Wales for 5-16 year olds (www.ace-ed.org.uk) ADCSAssociation of Directors of Children's Services – the national leadership Association in England for statutory directors of children's services and other children's services professionals in leadership roles (www.adcs.org.uk) Additional Literacy Support – an intervention programme designed to offer structured, additional support for those children in Year 3 and Year 4 who are not making the expected progress in literacy (see also ELS, FLS) AQA Assessment and Qualifications Alliance – provider of qualifications and awarding body (www.aqa.org.uk) ASCLAssociation of School and College Leaders – the professional association for leaders of secondary schools and colleges (www.ascl.org.uk) ASTAdvanced Skills Teacher – a teacher who has passed a national assessment and whose role is concentrated on sharing their expertise with teachers in their own and other schools ATLAssociation of Teachers and Lecturers – professional organisation and trade union for teachers and lecturers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (www.askatl.org.uk) AWPUAge-Weighted Pupil Unit – the unit used in calculating the funding of the school, weighted according to the pupils’ ages
BECTABritish Educational Communications and Technology Agency –Government agency promoting use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education, covering the United Kingdom (www.becta.org.uk) BSFBuilding Schools for the Future – a major capital investment programme aiming to rebuild or renew nearly every secondary school in England BTEC A vocational qualification that took its name from the now superseded Business and Technology Education Council that originally awarded it
CEOChief Education Officer CFRConsistent Financial Reporting – standardised approach for maintained schools to provide financial returns to government Community school – a school run by the local authority and which looks to develop strong links with the local community CPD Continuing Professional Development CRB Criminal Records Bureau CSBM Certificate in School Business Management CTC City Technology Colleges – independently managed, non-fee-paying schools in urban areas for pupils aged 11 to 18, which are geared towards science, technology and the workplace, offering vocational qualifications as well as GCSEs and A levels CU Children’s University – national organisation that provides 7 to 14 year olds with learning activities and experiences outside the normal school curriculum and outside normal school hours (www.thechildrensuniversity.com) CVA Contextual Value Added – school results processed to show the improvement of pupils over a given period and adjusted to allow for socio-economic and other factors
DCSDirector of Children’s Services – responsible for local authority functions relating to children in respect of education, social services and children leaving care (every top tier LA in England is required to appoint a DCS under the Children Act 2004) DCSF Department for Children, Schools & Families (www.dcsf.gov.uk) Diploma A new qualification for 14 to 19-year-olds, offering a mix of classroom learning and hands-on experience DIUS Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills (www.dius.gov.uk) DSG Dedicated Schools Grant – grant from central Government to fund all of a local authority’s schools budget expenditure
EAL English as an Additional Language Early adopter – schools awarded a grant from central Government to make initial investigations into becoming a Trust School EBDEmotional and Behavioural Difficulties ECMEvery Child Matters – a national Government framework to support the ‘joining up’ of children’s services (education, culture, health, social care, justice), with the aim of ensuring that every child has the necessary support to: be healthy; stay safe; enjoy and achieve; make a positive contribution; and achieve economic well-being (www.everychildmatters.gov.uk) Eco-Schools – an education and award programme that provides schools with a framework to help embed sustainable principles into school life (www.eco-schools.org.uk) Edexcel Provider of qualifications and awarding body (www.edexcel.org.uk) ELSEarly Literacy Support – an intervention programme designed to offer structured, additional support for those children in Year 1 who are not making the expected progress in literacy (see also ALS, FLS) EMAG Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant – grant from central Government to support activities specifically designed to improve the attainment of minority ethnic pupils ESRA Extended Schools Remodelling Advisor – the strategic lead for developing extended schools within each local authority Estyn The office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales Extended Schools – schools providing additional activities and services, often outside the normal school day, to help meet the needs of pupils, their families and the wider community
FE Further Education – usually referring to post 16 education FLSFurther Literacy Support– programme designed to offer structured, additional support for those children in Year 5 who are not making the expected progress in literacy (see also ALS, ELS) FMSiS Financial Management Standard in Schools – level of sound financial management expected of schools Foundation school – a school whose land and buildings are usually owned by a charity of the governing body, which also employs the staff and sets the admissions criteria FTE Full Time Equivalent – part-time staff measured according to the number of full time staff that would be required to work the same number of hours
GCSE General Certificate of Secondary Education GNVQ General National Vocational Qualification G&T Gifted and Talented – children and young people with an ability to develop to a level significantly ahead of their year group Grammar School – a type of state school that selects all or most of its pupils based on academic ability GTCE General Teaching Council for England – professional body for teaching in England (www.gtce.org.uk) GTP Graduate Teacher Programme – a programme of on-the-job training allowing graduates to qualify as a teacher while they work in a school
HE Higher Education – usually referring to post 18 education Healthy Schools – a programme to improve the health, achievement and happiness of children and young people (www.healthyschools.gov.uk) HLTA Higher Level Teaching Assistant HMCI Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector – the head of Ofsted HMI Her Majesty’s Inspector – an inspector of schools and colleges HMIe Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education for Scotland (www.hmie.gov.uk)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IB International Baccalaureate – a set of three internationally recognised
curricula.
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) for pupils aged 3 to 12 focuses on the
development of the whole child in the classroom and in the world outside.
The Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11 to 16 provides a
framework of academic challenge and life skills through embracing and
transcending traditional school subjects.
The Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19 is a demanding two-year
curriculum that meets the needs of highly motivated students, and leads to a
qualification that is recognized by leading universities around the world. ICT Information and Communication Technology IEB Interim Executive Board– temporary board of governors that can be appointed by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, or the local authority, to replace the governing body of a failing school IEP Individual Education Plan– builds on the curriculum that a child with learning difficulties or disabilities is following and is designed to set out the strategies being used to meet each child's identified needs IiP Investors in People– the national standard which sets out a level of good practice for the training and development of people in order to achieve business goals Independent schools – those funded by fees paid by parents and income from investments, and which set their own curriculum and admissions policies INSET In-Service Training for Teachers ISR Individual School Range– categorisation of a school according to size and type ITT Initial Teacher Training
J
KS1(2/3/4) Key Stage One (Two/Three/Four) – the unofficial term Key Stage Five is sometimes used to refer to sixth form
LA Local Authority LEA Local Education Authority LPU Literacy Progress Unit – a catch-up programme in literacy for pupils starting secondary school LSA Learning Support Assistant LSC Learning and Skills Council – organisation aiming toimprove the skills of England’s young people and adults, having taken over the roles of the former Further Education Funding Council and Training and Enterprise Councils (www.lsc.gov.uk) LSCB Local Safeguarding Children Board – statutory mechanism for agreeing how the relevant organisations in each local area will co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in that locality (the Children Act 2004 required each Local Authority to establish a LSCB)
NAHT National Association of Headteachers - professional association for heads and deputies in all sectors of education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (www.naht.org.uk) NASEN National Association for Special Educational Needs – organisation that promotes the education, training, advancement and development of all those with special and additional support needs (www.nasen.org.uk) NASUWT National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers – union representing teachers in the UK (www.nasuwt.org.uk) National Challenge schools – term used by Government to refer to schools in which fewer than 30% of pupils gained five A* - C grade GCSEs, including English and maths NC National Curriculum – framework setting out the stages and core subjects that children in maintained or state schools must be taught at school NCPTA National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations – national charity representing PTAs across England, Wales and Northern Ireland (www.ncpta.org.uk) NCSL National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services – centre for training and development of current and future school leaders (www.nationalcollege.org.uk/) NEOST National Employers’ Organisation for School Teachers – organisation representing children's services authorities and local education authorities (LEAs) in England and Wales NET National Education Trust – an independent foundation dedicated to improving the quality of education nationwide, shaping its future and working to help close the achievement gap (www.nationaleducationtrust.net) NFER National Foundation for Educational Research – independent charity that carries out research in the field of education (www.nfer.ac.uk) NGA National Governors’ Association – the representative body for school governors in England (www.nga.org.uk) NLS National Literacy Strategy – framework for improving the teaching of literacy in primary schools NLT National Literacy Trust – an independent charity that promotes literacy in the UK (www.literacytrust.org.uk) NNS National Numeracy Strategy – framework for raising standards in mathematics in primary schools NPPN National Parent Partnership Network – organisation supporting all Parent Partnership Services across England (www.parentpartnership.org.uk) NPQH National Professional Qualification for Headship NQF National Qualifications Framework NQT Newly Qualified Teacher – usually referring to a teacher in their first year in the job after initial training NRT National Remodelling Team – resource to help schools implement changes arising from the National Workload Agreement NRwS New Relationship with Schools – approach to embedding personalised learning in the education system through a new relationship between Government, local authorities and schools (announced in 2004) NUT National Union of Teachers (www.teachers.org.uk) NVQ National Vocational Qualification – work-related, competence-based qualifications NWA National Workload Agreement – Raising standards and tackling workload was signed by Government, employers and school workforce unions to introduce a series of significant changes to teachers' conditions of service from 2003 (www.tda.gov.uk/remodelling/nationalagreement.aspx)
OCR Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations – provider of qualifications and awarding body (www.ocr.org.uk) OCR Nationals - a vocational qualification, provided as an alternative to GCSEs Ofsted Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (www.ofsted.gov.uk)
PAT Professional Association of Teachers – now Voice Pupil Achievement Tracker – software enabling analysis of school performance data PE Physical Education PFI Private Finance Initiative – scheme whereby a public body contacts a private company to provide and maintain a capital asset (such as a building) PfS Partnerships for Schools – organisation responsible for delivering the Government’s secondary school renewal programme, BSF PGCE Post Graduate Certificate in Education PIC Pre-Inspection Commentary – complied by the lead inspector following an initial school visit and prior to the inspection PPA Preparation, Planning and Assessment – time set aside in the school day for teachers to prepare for lessons and to assess pupils’ progress PPS Parent Partnership Services – statutory services that offer local information, advice and support for parents of children and young people with special educational needs PNS Primary National Strategy – Government framework for raising standards in primary education PRU Pupil Referral Unit – LA maintained organisation that educates pupils excluded from schools or unable to attend for reasons such as illness PSHE Personal, Social and Health Education PSP Pastoral Support Programme – a school based and co-ordinated intervention to help individual pupils to improve their social, emotional and behavioural skills PTA Parent Teacher Association – a group to bring together parents, teachers and others to raise money and to support the school
QCA Qualifications and Curriculum Authority – organisation that maintains and develops the national curriculum and associated assessments, tests and examinations (www.qca.org.uk) QTS Qualified Teacher Status – the accreditation required to teach in state-maintained and special schools in England and Wales
RAISEonline – Reporting and Analysis for Improvement through School Self-Evaluation – online data on pupil performance for each school published by Ofsted and DCSF RE Religious Education RTP Registered Teacher Programme – provides a blend of work-based teacher training and academic study, allowing non-graduates with some experience of higher education to complete their degree and qualify as a teacher at the same time
SACRE Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education – statutory body of representatives of an LA, religious organisations and teachers, which advises on religious education and worship SATs Standard Assessment Tests – commonly used (though unofficial) name for the National Curriculum Tests carried out in England at ages 7, 11 and 14 SCCSchools Causing Concern – those judged by Ofsted to require special measures, or that require significant improvement School Food Trust – organisation working to improve school food and promote the education and health of children and young people (www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk) SCITT School Centred Initial Teacher Training – programmes designed and delivered by groups of neighbouring schools and colleges, enabling graduates to complete their initial teacher training in a school environment SDP School Development Plan – document detailing the main priorities a school has identified and that need to be addressed in order to raise standards SEAL Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning – the five underpinning qualities and skills that help us manage life and learning effectively (self-awareness, managing feelings, motivation, empathy, social skills) SEF Self-Evaluation Form, which schools in England are expected to complete annually and which will be examined by Ofsted prior to an inspection SEN Special Educational Needs SENCO Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator SFCC Schools Facing Challenging Circumstances - secondary schools which are not meeting the Government's floor targets at Key Stage 4 SI Statutory Instrument – a law/regulation SIP School Improvement Partner – person acting for the local authority to provide professional challenge and support to a school School Improvement Plan – see SDP SLA Service Level Agreement SLD Severe Learning Difficulties SMT Senior Management Team SNS Secondary National Strategy – Government framework for raising standards in secondary education Special School – school that provides for children with severe Special Educational Needs Specialist School Secondary school that has a particular focus on subjects relating to its chosen specialism, but which must also satisfy the requirements of the National Curriculum and provide a broad and balanced education Springboard – catch-up programme in mathematics for children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 7 SSA Standard Spending Assessment – the Government’s means of distributing the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) to local authorities, based on its view of what each authority needs to deliver a standard level of services SSAT Specialist Schools and Academies Trust – organisation working to improve secondary education (www.ssatrust.org.uk) SSF School Standards Fund – grant paid direct to schools by the Government STRB School Teachers’ Review Body – advises the Government on teachers’ pay and conditions each year
TA Teaching Assistant TDA Training and Development Agency for Schools (www.tda.gov.uk) Teachernet - extensive online resource to support the teaching profession (www.teachernet.gov.uk) Teach First - a programme enabling top graduates to spend two years working in challenging secondary schools in London, Manchester and the Midlands, qualifying as a teacher while completing leadership training and work experience TEC Training and Enterprise Council – superseded by the Learning and Skills Council TES Times Educational Supplement (www.tes.co.uk) TLR Teaching and Learning Responsibility – special responsibility for which teachers receive additional pay Trust School – a type of foundation school which forms a charitable trust with an outside partner (or partners), such as a business or educational charity, aiming to raise standards and explore new ways of working (www.ssatrust.org.uk/trustschools2/test/default.aspa)
UCAS Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (www.ucas.ac.uk)
VA Voluntary Aided – maintained schools whose land and buildings are owned by a charity (often a religious organisation), with responsibility for employing staff and setting admission criteria resting with the governing body, which also contributes to building and maintenance costs VC Voluntary Controlled – maintained schools whose land and buildings are owned by a charity (often a religious organisation), with the local authority having responsibility for employing staff and setting admission criteria Voice Union for education professionals, formerly the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) VQ Vocational Qualification
WAMG Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group – consisting of representatives of the trade unions and other organisations overseeing implementation of the National Workload Agreement
