Glossary

Education

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Attainment Targets (AT) - The knowledge, skills and understanding that pupils of differing ability and maturity are expected to have by the end of each Key Stage of the National Curriculum

Baseline Assessment - A teacher assessment designed to establish the attainment level of children, particularly on entry to infant schools. Performance is regarded as baseline, from which subsequent performance may be predicted, monitored and any relevant improvement or deterioration judged.

Behaviour Support Plan - An LEA action plan for 1999-2002 to tackle behaviour problems and education outside of mainstream school.

COP - Code of Practice

Community School - Schools which are, to a varying extent, centres for the educational, social, recreational and cultural activities of the whole community. In some community schools adults share lessons with the pupils.

Continuous Assessment - A method of assessment based on selected pieces of work done during the course rather than a final assessment.

DFEE - Department for Education and Employment. The central government department responsible for national education and employment policy, planning and finance.

EAZ - Education Action Zone. Local clusters of schools working in partnership with the LEA, parents, businesses and others to encourage innovative approaches to tackling disaffection and raising attainment in schools.

EDP - Education Development Plan. A 3 year plan from 1999 outlining means of seeking to raise standards of achievement in schools.

EiC - Excellence in Cities. A government initiative aimed at raising the educational aspirations and attainment of children in inner cities.

E&LLS - Education & Lifelong Learning Service. Local authority education department.

EP - Educational Psychologist.

EBD - Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties.

EPM - Education Planning Meeting.

EWO - Education Welfare Officer.

EWS - Education Welfare Service.

Exclusion - Articles of Government allowing Headteachers to exclude pupils from school for serious breaches of discipline. Exclusions may be fixed period, not exceeding 45 days in any school year, or permanent.

Further Education (FE) - Part-time or full-time education, often witha vocational emphasis, provided in colleges for students over statutory school age.

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) - The main Secondary School examinations for 16 years which replaced previous GCE 'O' levels, CSE and joint certificated examinations in England and Wales in 1988.

General Certificate of Education (GCE) - An examination at 'A' (Advanced) level (normally at the end of a two year sixth form/college course).

GNVQ - General National Vocational Qualification. There are three levels - Foundation, Intermediate (one year), and Advanced (two years) in vocational subjects.

Governors - Those appointed to act as corporate members of a body set up to exercise general oversight of the conduct and curriculum of a school or college in accordance with its Instrument and Articles of Government.

Higher Education (HE) - Part-time or full-time education at Universities and Colleges.

HMI - Her Majesty's Inspectors.

Home-School Agreement - School contract drawn up with parents/carers and the child. Includes expectations about standards of education, attendance, behaviour, homework etc.

IEP - Individual Education Plan.

INSET - In-service Education and Training. Courses and other activities for practicing teachers run by LEAs, the DfEE or other organisations designed to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

IT or ICT - Information Technology/ Information Communications Technology.

Key Stages (KS) - The 4 stages in a pupil's compulsory education to which elements of the National Curriculum apply.

Learning & Skills Councils - Replaced Training & Enterprise Councils in 2001.

Learning Mentors - Adults working on a one to one basis with specific pupils to support and engage them in the learning process.

LSU - Learning Support Unit.

LEA - Local Education Authority.

Lifelong Learning - The term applied to the idea that individuals need to learn continuously throughout their lives.

Mentoring - A system whereby a peer of adult offers additional personal support.

MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulties.

National Curriculum (NC) - Established by the 1988 Education Reform Act to ensure that all pupils aged 5-16 by law, receive a broad and balanced education, which is relevant to their needs. There are three "core" subjects (English, Maths, and Science) and seven "foundation" subjects, together with nationally agreed attainment targets and assessment arrangements.

National Literacy Strategy (NLS) - Framework produced by the Government to assist and guide teachers when teaching literacy in primary schools.

National Numeracy Strategy (NNS) - Framework produced by the Government to assist and guide teachers when teaching numeracy in primary schools.

New Deal - Government initiative to re-engage young people into education and training.

New Start Merseyside - A national strategy funded by the DfEE to challenge disaffection and increase the participation and motivation of young people in learning.

NVQ - National Vocational Qualification.

OFSTED - Office for Standards in Education. Responsible for carrying out regular inspections of all schools.

Options - At the end of third year of secondary school (Year 9), students normally are able to choose which subjects they wish to specialise in the following two years.

Pastoral Care - A school's arrangements for monitoring and advising pupils on their personal, career and academic development.

Performance Tables - National tables to show how schools are performing with regards to attainment and attendance.

PAEWS - Pupil Attendance & Education Welfare Service.

PTA - Parent Teacher Association. A voluntary body established to further the interests of a school.

Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) - An establishment for pupils who would otherwise be attending school.

PSHE - Personal, Social and Health Education.

PSP - Pastoral Support Plan.

QCA - Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Official body which produces the Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) and advises the government on the National Curriculum.

Reception Class - The first year of an infant or primary school.

SATs - Standard Assessment Tests. These are the National Curriculum tests in English, Maths and Science which all children take at the end of:

Pupils move through a scale of attainment from 1 to 8.

The National expectation is that pupils will achieve:

SEN - Special Educational Needs. Defined in 1993 Education Act as a child with a learning difficulty for which special educational provision has to be made. This may be because they have much greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of that age or has a physical disability. The LEA and Governors have a duty to help to identify and provide for such groups.

SENCO - Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator in mainstream schools.

Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) - Unit set up to report directly to the Prime Minister on issues of social exclusion.

Social Inclusion: Pupil Support (SIPS) - Funding for schools and Leas to tackle disaffection and reduce exclusions and truancy.

Statement of Special Educational Needs - Written description of a child's special educational needs and the provision that should be made to meet them. Incorporates advice from teachers, educational psychologists, parents and other professionals. The process itself is known as "statementing".

Uniform - A uniform policy may be included in a school's rules but is not legally enforceable. However, pupils may be sent home if unsuitably dressed.

Work Experience - Periods spent by secondary pupils working on an employer's premises to gain practical experience of the world of work. A recent change in the law (1998) enables pupils in Year 10, as well as Year 11, to be placed on work experience.

Social Services

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