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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

Select a letter

A

Academies

Publicly funded independent Secondary schools with sponsors from the private or voluntary sectors or from churches or from other faith sponsors.

ACAS

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service - Public body dealing with employment relations - www.acas.org.uk.

ACE

Advisory Centre for Education is an independent charity providing an advisory service to parents. www.ace-ed.org.uk.

ACL

Adult Learning
www.devon.gov.uk/index/socialcare/adultlearning.htm

ACS

Average Class Size www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b000222/030-01.htm.

Act

Part of the work of Parliament is to make laws. These are called Acts. Usually the House of Commons and the House of Lords debate proposals for new laws. At this stage they are called Bills. If both Houses vote for the proposals then the Bill is ready to become an Act. It can only be described as an Act when it has received Royal Assent.

Action Plan

A school's response to the report of its inspection by the Office for Standards in Education (OfSTED), which must be produced within 40 days.  This is specific to Ofsted. GBs may find other Action Plans equally useful.

AD(H)D

Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder.

Admissions Authority

Schools which handle their own pupil applications are admission authorities. They send out information about the school and pupil application forms, giving a deadline for receipt. Local Authorities are also admission authorities as they are responsible for admissions to community and voluntary-controlled schools.

Admissions Code

Came into force in February 2007. www.dfes.gov.uk/sacode.

Admissions Register

Register of the details of pupils in alphabetical order.

Advanced GNVQ

Advanced General National Vocational Qualification This is similar to BTEC and the equivalent of 2 A levels. The subjects offered have a vocational element such as childhood studies.

AEF

is a non-profit organisation focusing on the issue of advertising and children.

AEN

Additional Education Needs.

AGOG

The DFCS’ Advisory Group on Governance - Members of AGOG include the local government association, governor organisations, national co-coordinators of governor services, head-teacher organisations and church education bodies.

AHT

Assistant Head Teachers.

Alis

The Advanced Level Information System - provides performance indicators for post-16 students across all sectors of education and includes analysis of A level, AS level, Advanced GNVQ exams and now AVCEs. Alis is the original member of the family of value-added monitoring systems run at the Curriculum, Evaluation and Management Centre (CEM Centre) at Durham University. 

ALS

Additional Literacy Support.

AoC

Association of Colleges - The AoC represents general Further Education (FE)colleges, sixth form colleges and specialist colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some 98% of colleges are in Association of Colleges membership.   FE and Sixth Form Colleges in England serve more 16-18 year olds than schools, (600,000 compared with 400,000) and over twice as many adults as universities (3.5 million adult learners in FE).

APA

Annual Performance Assessment.

Appraisal

The process of assessing how well a member of staff is carrying out his or her job.

Approved Educational Activity

An activity that takes place outside the school premises and that has been approved by a person authorized to do so by the proprietor of the school. The activity is of an educational nature, including work experience, and is supervised by a person authorized in that behalf by the proprietor of the school.

APS

Average Points Score. See www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/ts/docs/openquals.doc for further information.

APTC

Admin, Professional, Technical and Clerical graded employees.

AS

Asperger’s Syndrome.

ASD

Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

AST

Advanced Skills Teachers.

Associate member

A person who is appointed by the Governing Body as a member of a Committee established by it, but who is not a Governor.

ATL

Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Formerly AMMA - trade union and professional association.

Attainment targets

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 i.e. assessed at ages 7, 11, 14 and 16.

Attendance Register

A register is called at the beginning of the morning session and once during the afternoon. It must contain the names of all pupils that attend school.

Attendance Targets

The Governing Body is required to agree with the LA attendance targets for reducing authorised absence (where the absence of a pupil has been agreed by the person authorised in that behalf by the proprietor of the school, and unauthorised absences (where no permission for absence has been given) from school.

Audit Commission

An independent body set up by the Government to monitor the use of funds by LAs and certain other bodies.

AWPU

Age-Weighted Pupil Unit, that is, the sum of money allocated to the school for each pupil according to age.  This is the main source of funding for the school.

B

Baseline Assessment

An assessment of a child’s skills and ability usually made by a teacher within the first seven days of school entry. It shows teachers what a child can do when starting school and helps them to plan lessons and measure progress. Areas covered include Language and Literacy, Maths and Personal and Social Development.

Basic skills 

Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.

BECTA

British Educational Communications and Technology Agency is the key partner in the strategic development and delivery of its information and communications technology (ICT) and e-learning. www.becta.org.uk.

Behaviour Support Plan

A statement that sets out the arrangements for schools and other service providers for the education of children with behavioural problems.

Benchmarking

Comparing school expenditure with broadly similar schools from the LA, the region and nationally.

BES

Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

BEST

Behaviour and Education Support Team.

Best Value 

A policy confirming that Governing Bodies will work to achieve economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

Bichard Report 

A report produced following the Soham murders, which identifies how such an incident should not happen again.

BIP

Behaviour Improvement Programme.

BSA

Basic Skills Agency is committed to funding, developing and disseminating good practice in literacy, language and numeracy. www.basic-skills.co.uk.

BST

Behaviour Support Team.

Budget Share

The total sum of money allocated to a school for the financial year by the LA.

Buy Back

Provision for schools to use part of their delegated budget to purchase services from the LA.

C

CAL

Computer Assisted Learning.

CAMHS

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service www.youngminds.org.uk/camhs.

Capital expenditure 

Spending on projects and large items of equipment.

Capitation allowance

The part of the school’s annual budget allocated to spending on equipment and teaching materials.

Carry Forward

Money left unspent at the end of the financial year that is carried forward to the school’s budget for the following year. These sums are “capped” at 5% of budget for Secondary Schools and 8% for Primary or Special Schools after taking into account money committed to specific projects.

CASE

Campaign for State Education www.campaignforstateeducation.org.uk.

Casting Vote 

An additional vote to be used by the Chair of Governors if an equal number of votes is cast for and against a motion.

Children’s Centres

Sure Start Children’s Centres are “places where children under 5 years old and their families can receive seamless holistic integrated services and information. And where they can access help from multi-disciplinary teams of professionals.” www.surestart.gov.uk.

Circular

A policy statement issued by the Government which does not have the status of law, but which gives guidance on interpretation and implementation of the law.

CTC

City Technology College Independent all ability, non-fee paying schools for pupils aged 11 – 18. There are 4 CTCs and one CCTA (City College for the Technology of the Arts) in urban areas across England. CTCs teach the national curriculum to under-16-year-olds with a focus on science, mathematics and technology. They offer a wide range of vocational qualifications and part of their role is to innovate in the development, management and delivery of the curriculum.

Clerk to the Governing Body

A person appointed to carry out administrative duties for the governing body, such as preparing agenda, minuting meetings and dealing with correspondence. The Clerk advises the Governing Body on legal and procedural matters. See the LA’s Clerk Manual at www.devon.gov.uk/dgs-clerksmanual.

Collaboration

Where two or more Governing Bodies may arrange for any of their functions to be discharged jointly by holding joint meetings and/or having joint committees.

Community Governor

A Governor representing community and local business chosen by members of the Governing Body and in whose opinion a person committed to the good government and success of the school.

Community Schools 

A state school in England and Wales that is wholly owned and maintained by the LA.

Community Special School

A state school in England and Wales that is wholly owned and maintained by the LA providing for pupils with special education needs (SEN).

Competitive tendering 

Obtaining quotes from two or more suppliers before awarding contracts. See www.devon.gov.uk/procedures_tenders.htm for further guidance, but note for a given estimated value of contract of:
  ●  Above £1000 and up to £2500 you will need two oral quotations
  ●  Above £2500 (£5000 for works) and up to £10000, you will need three written quotes.

Complaints

The day to day running of the school is the responsibility of the headteacher, the board of governors and the Local Authority (LA).  Every school should have a Complaints Procedure.  Generally, parents should initially put their concerns in writing to the headteacher of the school and then, concerns should be raised with the chair of the board of governors.  If they are unhappy with the response that they receive, they may then refer the complaint to the LA.  Should they remain dissatisfied with the LA's response, the complaint may be raised with the Department for children, Schools and Families, setting out their concerns in full and enclosing all previous correspondence.  The address is: DCSF, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT.

Connexions

A service that provides a single point of access for all 13 – 19 year olds to help them prepare for the transition to work and adult life.
www.connexions-direct.com.

Contingency Fund

Money set aside for unexpected costs.

Core Subjects 

English, Maths and Science are the subjects that must be studied by all pupils at every Key Stage.

COSHH

Control of substances Hazardous to Health. www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm.

Coursework

Work completed over a period of time which counts towards a final mark along with an end of course examination in the case of GCSE and regular tests in the case of GNVQ.

CPD 

Continuing Professional Development – any activity that increases teachers’ knowledge or understanding.

CRB

Criminal Records Bureau Currently (Aug 07) Governors do not require CRB checks to undertake their duties. A CRB check for Governors will be mandatory from September 2008.

CRE 

Commission for Racial Equality. www.cre.gov.uk.

Current Expenditure

Spending on the day-to-day running of schools including staff costs, heating and lighting, consumables etc. Sometimes called recurrent expenditure.

Curriculum

The school curriculum comprises all learning and other experiences that each school provides for its pupils. For maintained schools (except special schools established in a hospital) this includes the national curriculum, religious education (RE), collective worship, sex and relationship education (SRE) and careers education. The school curriculum has two aims:
  ●  To provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve
  ●  To promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and prepare all pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.

CVA

Contextual Value Added measures have been used in the Achievement and Attainment Tables (formerly Performance Tables) since 2002. They measure the attainment of pupils in comparison to pupils with similar prior attainment, and is fairer than using raw outcomes since schools can have very different levels of attainment on entry. In 2006 the following attainment and contextual factors were considered:
  ●  Pupil prior attainment
  ●  Gender
  ●  SEN
  ●  First language (for given prior attainment)
  ●  Measures of pupil mobility
  ●  Age
  ●  An “in care” indicator
  ●  Ethnicity
  ●  Free school meals (for given ethnicity)
  ●  Income deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI)
  ●  Average and range of prior attainment within the school (KS2-3, KS 2- 4 and KS 3 – 4 only).

D

DAPH

Devon Association of Primary Heads.

DASH

Devon Association of Secondary Heads.

Day Nurseries

These take children under five for the whole working day. Children can attend on a part-time or full-time basis according to their parents' needs. They may be run by local authorities, voluntary organisations, private companies, individuals or employers. There must be at least one adult for every eight children and at least half of the staff must have a qualification recognised by the local authority.

DCSF

Department for Children, Schools and Families (formerly DfES) and the central government department for a number of issues, including Education. The website address is www.dcsf.gov.uk. The name of the Department of Education and Science (DES) changed to the Department for Education (DFE) on 6 July 1992, then to the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) on 4 July 1995 and to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in June 2001. In June 2007, the DfES became the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

DBE

Diocesan Board of Education, whose purpose is to develop and promote best practices in church - aided schools.

DDA

Disability Discrimination Act came into effect on 1 October 2004 www.dwp.gov.uk/employers/dda.

Delegated Budget

Money provided to schools which Governors can manage at their discretion. GBs may delegate further to the HT and Bursar / Administrator and further delegation may be given to teaching staff.

Delegated Powers

Authority given to a committee or the HT to take action on behalf of the GB.

Delegation

A process where one body or person gives another body or person, authority to take decisions on a particular matter.

Designated area

The geographical area served by a school. Children living in a school’s designated area will have a higher priority for a place.

Designated Teacher

An advocate who liaises with other services on behalf of young people in care.

Detailed arrangements funding

This funding is allocated in recognition of the fact that most schools will have some pupils with low to medium level special educational needs. This is described more fully in the Devon Guidance Criteria for Statutory Assessment and Resource Allocation. It may be used to augment the exceptional arrangements funding for a student.

DHT

Deputy Head Teacher.

Differentiation 

The organisation of teaching programmes and methods specifically to suit the age, ability and aptitudes of individual children.

Directed time 

Time when a teacher must be available to carry out duties, including attending staff and parent meetings, under the direction of the Head.  Maximum of 1265 hours in a school year.

Disapplication 

A term used where parts or all National Curriculum requirements may not apply to a pupil in specified cases or circumstances.

Draft 

A provisional or tentative paper or motion put forward for consultation. 

Dyslexia

A learning difficulty of which the chief manifestation is a particular difficulty with reading and spelling. For more information go to: www.bda-dyslexia.org.

Dyspraxia

Generally recognised as an impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement. Associated with this may be problems of language, perception and thought - further information from the Dyspraxia Foundation.

E

EAL

English as an Additional Language. See www.standards.dfes.gov.uk for further details. There are some 60 different languages spoken in Devon. The 2006 PLASC recorded 97836 pupils of compulsory school age: 3466 were minority ethnic pupils for 967 of whom English is an Additional Language.

EAZ 

Education Action Zone was first established in 1998 and the aim was to establish 73 such zones across the country, based on a cluster of schools, usually in a local area. The aim of an EAZ is to develop, in conjunction with local partners, imaginative approaches to raising educational standards in seriously disadvantaged areas.

Early Years and Childcare Service

see www.devon.gov.uk/zero14plus.htm for further information on the plan that explains what local early education and childcare services will be provided by the LA and includes a list of all local providers of free early education.

EBD 

Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (Special Needs).

ECM 

Every Child Matters See www.everychildmatters.gov.uk for details of this government initiative, which focuses on 5 positive outcomes for all children, namely:
  ●  Be healthy
  ●  Stay safe
  ●  Enjoy and Achieve
  ●  Make a positive contribution
  ●  Achieve economic well-being.

Edubase

The up to date database of educational establishments across England and Wales - www.edubase.gov.uk.

EIC 

Excellence in Cities. See www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/sie/eic.

EMAG 

Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant - funding to support ethnic minority pupils in schools. See www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/ethnicminorities/raising_achievement.

EP

Education Psychologist www.devon.gov.uk/index/learning/supporting-children and follow links to EP.

EOC 

Equal Opportunities Commission. www.eoc.org.uk.

EWO

Education Welfare Officer is employed to help pupils and parents where there are problems particularly regarding attendance.

Exceptional arrangements funding

This is funding linked to an individual pupil’s needs as set out in a Statement of SEN. The wording in the statement links the funding to a staffing level but it can be used in any appropriate way to ensure the child’s needs (as identified in the Statement) are met.

Exclusion 

The temporary or permanent banning of a pupil from school.

Ex Officio 

Someone who is automatically a governor/able to attend meetings by virtue of the office they hold eg. headteacher, parish priest, vicar.  ie.  The position of governor comes with the job.

Extended Schools 

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. As recommended by DCSF use the following website for more details www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/extendedschools.

EYFSP - Early Years Foundation Stage Profile

Subsumes former Foundation Stage Profile in September 2008. It is designed, amongst other things, to provide practioners with reliable and accurate information about each child's level of development at the end of the Foundation Stage.

F

Failing School

One ruled by an Ofsted inspection team to be failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education.

Fair Funding 

The term that describes the system of funding for schools introduced in April 1999, which sets the framework for the financial relationship between schools and LAs.

Fast track

An opportunity for those seen as highly talented teachers to progress rapidly in their careers.

Federation

The coming together under one governing body of not more than 5 maintained schools.

FMSiS

Financial Management Standard in Schools, a standard all Secondary Schools should have met by 31 March 2007. Primary and Special schools will have to meet the standard by 2010.

FSA

Food Standards Agency is an independent food safety watchdog set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.

Form of Entry 

The number of classes that a school admits each year.

Formula Funding 

The method by which funds for school budgets are calculated. The most important factor is the number of pupils.

Foundation Governor 

A person appointed to the GB, otherwise than by the LA to ensure that the school preserves its particular religious character.

Foundation Schools 

Introduced in 1999 and a school, which has more freedom than community schools to manage their school and decide on their own admissions. At foundation schools the GB is the employer and the admission authority. The school’s land and buildings are either owned by the GB or by a charitable foundation. Funding comes from the LA, which also pays for any building work.

Foundation Special School

A type of school introduced in 1999 which has more freedom than community schools to manage their schools. It differs from a foundation school, in that it caters for children with special education needs. The GB remains the employer but admission to the school is through a statement. Land, building and funding are as per foundation schools.

Foundation Stage 

The first stage of the national curriculum that focuses on the distinct needs of children aged three until the end of the reception year of primary school.

FSM

Free school meals.

Fresh Start

A school is given a ‘Fresh Start’ when it is closed and reopened on the same site under the normal school reorganisation procedures. Schools eligible for Fresh Start must be in Special Measures, serious weaknesses, subject to a formal LA warning or (for secondary) achieving less than a 15% rate of pupils gaining at lest 5 A*-C GCSEs over three years from March 2000.

FTE

Full time equivalent – refers to teachers’ employment.

FTET

Full-Time Education and Training.

G

GB

Governing Body is required to meet three times a year. A GB is to have a minimum of 9 and maximum of 20 members. See Chapter 2, and particularly the table in Para 24 of the Guide to the Law for School Governors for the breakdown of appointees and members.

GCSE

General Certificate of Secondary Education.

Gifted and talented 

Pupils, identified in 2005, likely to achieve more than expected national curriculum levels. www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/giftedandtalented/govpolicy/aims.

GIS

Geographic Information System.  Used by Devon LA to show School Designated Area Maps.

GNVQ

General National Vocational Qualification. The phased withdrawal of GNVQs was announced in November 2003. More at www.gnvq.edexcel.org.uk.

Green Papers

are consultation documents produced by the Government. Often when a government department is considering introducing a new law, it will put together a discussion document called a Green Paper. The aim of this document is to allow people both inside and outside Parliament to debate the subject and give the department feedback on its suggestions.

GTC  

General Teaching Council, the professional body for schoolteachers. See www.gtce.org.uk for further details.

Governorline

is the professional help line offering e-mail and telephone support across all aspects of school life to Governors, Clerks and individuals involved directly with school governance in England. Freephone 08000 722181. Website is at www.governorline.info.

GovernorNet

is a website providing up to date information on all aspects of school governance at www.governornet.co.uk.

Grant Maintained School

A primary or secondary school previously financed through the Funding Agency for Schools, after parents had voted to opt out of LA control.

Guide to the Law

A CD-Rom has replaced the hard backed book. A new version of the CD-Rom will be issued twice a year to cater for frequent changes. There is always an up to date version on www.governornet.co.uk.

H

HLTA 

Higher Level Teaching Assistant.

HMCI

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is the head of Ofsted www.ofsted.gov.uk.

HMI

Her Majesty’s Inspectors are appointed by the Chief Inspector to support him or her in her statutory duties.

Home School Agreements 

All state schools are required to have written agreements drawn up in consultation with parents. They are non-binding statements explaining the school’s aims and values, the responsibilities of both school and parents and what the school expects of its pupils. Parents will be invited to sign a parental declaration indicating that they understand and accept the contents of the agreement.

I

ICT 

Information and Communications Technology.

IEP

Individual Education Plan - Programmes which are drawn up by the class teacher and/or special needs co-ordinator within a school to provide individual support for children deemed to have needs over and above that of other children in the class. This could be either due to learning difficulties or because they are considered to be exceptionally bright or gifted children.

IiP 

Investors in People.  A quality standard awarded to organisations - including schools - demonstrating a commitment to developing employees. www.investorsinpeople.co.uk.

Inclusion Statement

A statutory statement in the national curriculum to provide effective learning opportunities for all pupils through the school curriculum. Teachers can modify (as necessary) the national curriculum programmes of study to set suitable learning challenges, respond to pupils’ diverse learning needs, and address potential barriers to learning and assessment for individuals and groups of pupils.

Independent School

Any school that provides full-time education for five or more pupils of compulsory school age, which is not maintained by an LA or a non-maintained special school. As these schools are not funded by the state, they obtain most of their finances from fees paid by parents and income from investments. Some of the larger independent schools are known as public schools, whilst most boarding schools are independent.

Information Commissioner

The body set up to oversee and enforce the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act. www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.

Inset Day 

In-service Education and Training Day - five days during the year are set aside for staff training.  Pupils do not attend school on these days.

IoG 

Instrument of Government – A statutory legal document setting out the composition of Governing Bodies.

ISCG

Information for School and College Governors exists to help governors and their clerks to do their best for their schools and everyone in them. The group provides governors with practical advice, independent and up-to-date information and relevant services. www.governors.fsnet.co.uk.

ISR

Individual School Range Refers to the HT pay range.

ITT 

Initial Teacher Training. See the Training and Development Agency for Schools website, www.tda.gov.uk for further details.

J

JMI

Junior, Middle and Infant  For 4 -11 year olds.

Junior Schools

For 7-11 year olds.

K

Key Stages 

The four stages of the National Curriculum: KS1 3-7 yrs; KS2 7-11 yrs; KS3 12-13 yrs and KS4 14-16 yrs. Pupils are tested at the end of each KS.

L

Lay Member

A member appointed to a panel hearing appeals against non-admission or exclusion, being a person without personal experience in managing or providing education in any school (other than as a Governor or on a voluntary basis). He or she must not have, or have had, any connection with the school or any person who is a member of, or employed by the Governing Body if that might raise doubts about his or her ability to act fairly.

LA 

Local Authority. Still, sometimes referred to as the Local Education Authority (LEA).

LAC 

Looked After Children - those in the care of the LA. The LA seeks to find a school place within 20 days of application. Admission Authorities are required to give LAC the highest priority in their over-subscription criteria.

LA Governor

appointed by members of the County Council. GBs may commend individuals to the Council for consideration as appointees. For further details see www.devon.gov.uk/governors.

Link Governor

The terms Link, Curricular or Specific Subject Governor are often used for governors who are given responsibility for specific subjects eg. ICT, Numeracy, Literacy, RE, SEN etc. It is not a statutory requirement for subjects to have governors assigned to them, but it is considered good practice. Link governors can also be the term used for governors who are the link between the LA and the school.

List 99

Contains the names, dates of birth and teacher reference numbers of people whose employment has been barred or restricted, either on grounds of misconduct or on medical grounds. If a person's employment is restricted, the entry shows the types of employment in which he or she is permitted to work. People barred on misconduct grounds are listed separately from those barred on medical grounds, but no details of misconduct are given.  List 99 is a sensitive and confidential document and access to it is strictly limited to individuals responsible for checking the suitability of applicants. The purpose of List 99 is to enable employers to safeguard against employing a barred person. It should be emphasised that not all those on the list are perceived to be a danger to children.

Literacy Strategy 

Introduced by the Government in September 1998 to promote higher standards in English; all Primary Schools introduced one hour of literacy, as part of the strategy. This initiative has been further taken forward through the Primary Framework for literacy and mathematics. Learn more through www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary.

LMS 

Local Management of Schools - a system whereby schools are responsible for their delegated budgets and managing their own affairs.

LPSH 

Leadership Programme for Serving Headteachers for HTs with more than three years experience See www.ncsl.org.uk.

LSC 

Learning and Skills Council. See www.lsc.gov.uk.

M

MNS

Maintained Nursery School providing education for children aged from 3 – 5, maintained by the LA.

Maintained School

A school for which the LA has financial and administrative responsibility.

Maintained Special School

A special school that caters wholly or mainly for children with statutory statements of SEN, for which an LA has financial and administrative responsibility.

ME

Myalgic Encelphalomyelitis - A chronic condition which affects about four people in every 1,000, mostly adults and children between 13 and 15. The main symptom is fatigue following exertion or mental activity. See www.meassocation.org.uk .

Mentor Governor

An experienced Governor who will work with a new Governor to assist as required.

MFL

Modern Foreign Languages See www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes/primary_mfl.

Minutes 

The formal written record of any meeting. Minutes are the property of the whole GB. Draft minutes should be circulated within 14 days of any meeting.

Mixed ability 

A teaching group in which children of all abilities are taught together and not streamed or set.

MFG

Minimum Funding Guarantee is set for 3.7% increase for both Primary and Secondary Schools for 2007 - 08.

MLD 

Moderate Learning Difficulties (Special Needs).

MTA

Mealtime assistant.

N

NAA

National Assessment Agency is a subsidiary agency of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and has responsibility for national curriculum tests and ensuring the smooth delivery and modernization of the examinations system. www.naa.org.uk.

National Curriculum

provides a broad and balanced education for all children, covering 12 subjects overall and divided into four Key Stages according to age. www.qca.org.uk.

National Curriculum Tests

are national tasks / tests set by the NAA. Commonly referred to as SATs.

NAHT 

The National Association of Head Teachers. www.naht.org.uk.

NASUWT 

The National Association of Schoolmasters / Union of Women Teachers. The website is at www.nasuwt.org.uk.

NCOGS

National Co-ordinators of Governor Services in England www.ncogs.org.uk.

NCPTA 

The National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations. www.ncpta.org.uk.

NCSL 

National College of School Leadership. www.ncsl.org.uk.

Net Capacity

The capacity of a school is the number of pupil places available. The net capacity is intended to provide a single, robust and consistent method of assessing the capacity of schools.  The DCSF website provides detailed information, including the 2002 guidance document, frequently asked questions, assessment forms and examples.

NFER

National Foundation for Educational Research Established in 1946 www.nfer.ac.uk.

NGfL

National Grid for Learning - Government funded project to connect schools to the Internet and to provide learning materials for them via the world wide web - responsible for information and communications technology (ICT) in schools.

NPQH 

National Professional Qualification for Headship On 1 April 2004, it became mandatory for all first-time HTs within the maintained sector to hold or be working towards NPQH. The transitional arrangement allowing those with a place on the programme to be appointed will end on 31 March 2009, after which, only those holding NPQH will be eligible for appointment to their first substantive headship post.

NQT 

Newly Qualified Teacher.

NRwS 

New Relationship with Schools is designed to help raise standards, with clearer priorities, less bureaucracy for schools and more information for parents. www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/newrelationship.

Nursery Classes

These classes take children aged three and four, usually on a part-time basis. The recommended ratio laid down in guidance is one qualified teacher and one qualified nursery assistant to 26 children (2:26).

NUT 

The National Union of Teachers. www.nut.org.uk.

NVQ

National Vocational Qualification - Work based qualification.

O

OFSTED 

Office for Standards in Education, Children Services and Skills. It brings together the regulation and inspection of day-care and children’s social care and the inspection of LA children’s services, schools, colleges, initial teaching training, work-based learning, adult education and more. www.ofsted.gov.uk.

Open Enrolment

All schools must admit pupils up to their standard number, which is calculated according to the physical capacity of the school to accommodate pupils.

Oversubscription Criteria

Often referred to as those rules applied by admission authorities when a school has more applications than places. They must by law be fair and objective and must be published annually in prospectuses and by local authorities in a prospectus explaining admissions at all schools in an area.

Overviews

Overviews on GovernorNet are top level articles providing outlines for topic areas, including links to relevant further and background reading, legislation, guidance, weblinks and attachments.  They are a useful starting point for those new to governance.

P

Panda 

Ofsted Performance and Assessment Data. To be replaced by RAISEonline in 2007.

PAN 

Planned Admission Number - the number of children the LA (or GB of as Aided school) determines can be admitted to a school. Normally set at Reception Year.

PAT

Professional Association of Teachers.

Parent

This includes any person having all the rights, duties, powers, responsibility and authority (see Parental Responsibility) which a parent has by law, or who has care of him or her. Therefore, depending on the circumstances, a “parent” may include not only the child’s natural parents, but also others such as step-parents, relatives, co-habitees of either natural or foster parent.

Parent Champion

A person appointed where a school is causing concern (particularly when the school is in special measures or significant improvement) to ensure good communication with parents and ensure parents are able to influence decisions about the future of the school.

Parent Governor

A parent elected by other parents of children at a school to serve on the GB.

Parental Responsibility

This means all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority that a parent of a child has by law. More than one person may have parental responsibility for the same child at the same time, and a person does not cease to have such responsibility solely because some other person subsequently also acquires it. Both parents have parental responsibility if they were married to each other at the time of the child’s birth and they have since separated or divorced. If the child’s parents were not married at the time of the birth, the mother always has parental responsibility and the father may have by agreement or by order of a Court. Parental responsibility passes on to the adopter when an adoption order is made. Although a residence order or care order may confer parental responsibility, an LA will not be treated as a parent for certain purposes under the Education Acts.

Parenting contract

A formal written agreement between a parent and either the LA or the GB of a school. Parenting contracts require the party entering into the contract to fund any cost of the “supportive” element of the contract. In the context of a school this will be the GB (which has control of the school budget under The School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

Parenting Order

Since 27 February 2004 LAs and schools have had powers to enter into agreements with parents (parenting contracts, see above) to address their children's behaviour and attendance at school. Specifically a Parenting Order is:
  ●  a court order which compels a parent to attend parenting classes and to fulfil other requirements as determined necessary by the court for improving their child's behaviour
  ●  the application is a free-standing civil application. It does not involve a criminal conviction but can be used
  ●  where a pupil has been excluded for serious misbehaviour either permanently or for the second time in 12 months
  ●  where parenting is considered a factor in the child's behaviour and parents are unwilling to engage with LA or school and has been introduced in recognition that:
  ●  some parents need support and that some parents may need targeted and individualised support from schools and LAs
  ●  some parents are unwilling or feel unable to engage voluntarily when schools/LAs raise issues over their child's behaviour
  ●  parenting programmes help parents gain the skills and confidence they need and have proved successful in the area of youth crime with over 90 per cent of participating parents saying that they would recommend it to other parents in their situation
  ●  helps to provide parents with the skills they need to address their child's behaviour

Partnership Governor

Where a school does not have a foundation or equivalent body, foundation governors are replaced by partnership governors who are appointed by the GB after a nominations process

Penalty notice

The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 introduced new powers for designated LA officers, typically Education Welfare Officers, head teachers (and deputy head teachers & assistant head teachers authorised by them) and the police, to issue penalty notices for truancy. Most penalty notices are issued by LAs. Like Parenting Orders the powers have been available since 27 February 2004. Specifically, Penalty Notices provide an alternative to prosecution for the offence of ‘irregular school attendance’ (commonly referred to as ‘truancy’) under s444 of the Education Act 1996 and enable parents to discharge potential liability for conviction for that offence by paying a penalty of £50 if paid within 28 days/£100 if paid within 42 days. If the penalty is unpaid or paid in part at the end of the 42 day period, the local authority must withdraw the notice (which they can only do in specified circumstances) or prosecute for the offence to which the notice relates. Unlike other penalty notice schemes the prosecution is not for non-payment of the notice. If there is a prosecution it will follow the usual procedures of a prosecution for irregular attendance. Prosecutions will be brought by the LA . When is it appropriate? Can be used in cases of truancy where the parent is capable of but unwilling to secure an improvement in their child’s school attendance. In September 2005 the legislation was extended to also cover children who truant from the alternative provision made for them by their school or LA (provisions in the Education Act 2005). Why was it introduced? Reducing truancy is one of the Government’s key priorities in relation to education, anti-social behaviour and youth crime. Prosecution is expensive, time-consuming and can be too heavy handed for some parents. Penalty notices provide a much quicker and cheaper and more effective way of dealing with those parents who are capable of improving their child’s attendance and where a simple sanction will focus them on their responsibilities. In addition the Education and Inspections Act 2006 introduced new measures to allow penalty notices to be issued in relation to the whereabouts of excluded pupils. Parents will be responsible for ensuring that their child is not present, without reasonable excuse, in a public place during the first five days of any exclusion. Liability for the offence may be discharged by way of paying a penalty notice (see above) with prosecution in the event of non-payment. The objective is to make exclusion a more effective sanction and address concerns that some pupils when excluded may make a public nuisance of themselves and be drawn into anti-social behaviour. These changes come into effect on 1 September 2007. Headteachers wishing to issue, or authorize their staff to issue, penalty notices must first gain the agreement of the GB.

Performance Tables

Also known as League Tables The DCFS publishes comparative secondary and 16-18 performance tables each year. The tables report achievements in public examinations and vocational qualifications in secondary schools and Further Education sector colleges. Primary school performance tables are published by local authorities and report the achievements of pupils at the end of Key Stage 2.

Peripatetic teacher 

A teacher who works in a number of schools, to give specialist instruction e.g. in music.

PFI 

Private Finance Initiative. Public Private Partnerships (including the Private Finance Initiative), aim is to provide the public sector with better value for money in procuring modern, high quality services from the private sector. The key to a successful deal is the partnership between the procurer and the supplier. See
www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinanceandbuilding for further information.

PGCE 

Post-Graduate Certificate of Education - a teaching qualification which includes a period of practical teaching experience.

PGR 

Parent Governor Representative.

PLASC 

Pupil Level Annual School Census. DCSF form submitted by every school each January to record the number of teachers employed, the number of children in each age group, the organisation of classes etc.

Playing for Success

is an initiative to provide out of school hours study support centres within top football clubs and at other sports’ clubs grounds and venues. The centres use the environment and medium of football to help motivate pupils identified by their schools, as being in need of a boost to help them get back up to speed in numeracy, literacy and ICT. The Pilgrim Centre at Plymouth Argyle FC is an example of a Study Support Centre.

Plenary

The time at the end of a lesson in which the teacher finds out what children have learnt and re-emphasises the main points of the lesson.

PNS 

Primary National Strategy.

PPA 

Planning, Preparation and Assessment time - from September 2005 all teachers have an entitlement to this.

PRP 

Performance Related Pay.

PRU 

Pupil Referral Unit - Unit catering for pupils with a range of difficulties which mainstream schools would have problems dealing with. There are 7 in Devon.

PSB 

Potential School Budget.

PTA 

Parent Teachers Association.

PTR 

Pupil/Teacher Ratio. This is calculated by dividing the number of pupils in a school by the number of full-time equivalent teachers.

Pupil Profile 

Broad evaluation of a pupil’s personality, interests and capabilities.  This forms part of his/her Record of Achievement.

Q

QCA 

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority - the agency responsible for advising on the school curriculum.

QTS 

Qualified Teacher Status. The professional status needed to teach in state maintained schools in England and Wales. QTS is normally awarded after successful completion of an Initial Teacher Training course.

Quorum 

under the School Governance (Constitution, Procedures and New Schools)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2004/450, the quorum needs to be calculated as 50% of those governors in post. Any resolutions passed at a meeting without the required quorum are invalid, but may be notified at a subsequent quorate meeting.

R

RAISEonline

a new web-based system to disseminate school performance data which will replace Ofsted Performance and Assessment (PANDA) reports and the former DfES Pupil Achievement Tracker (PAT) in 2007 to coincide with the availability of 2006 validated National Curriculum data. www.raiseonline.org.

Reading age 

A measurement of a pupil’s reading ability based on standard national tests defining normal attainment at that age.

Reception Classes

These take children at age four and five, some start children off with half-day sessions. Provided that the majority of the children reach statutory school age within the academic year, reception classes must have no more than 30 children with a qualified teacher.

Resolution 

A formal decision which has been proposed, seconded and agreed not necessarily by a vote - at a meeting.

Rising fives 

Children who start school in the term before their fifth birthday.

S

SACRE

Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education - Local statutory body which advises on religious education and collective worship.

SATs 

Standard Assessment Tasks - (now National Curriculum tests).

School Profile 

A document giving key information about the school including the school’s achievements and its plans for the future.

SDP 

School Development/Improvement Plan - the school’s plan for improvement.

Secondment 

The release of staff on a temporary basis to another establishment.

SEF 

Self Evaluation Form - completed by each school and used as main document by Inspectors during Ofsted inspections. Should be updated at least annually.

SEN 

Special Educational Needs - learning difficulties for which special educational provision has to be made.  Many include children with physical disabilities or emotional and behavioural disorders and gifted children.  Governors have a duty to help identify and provide for such pupils.

SENCO 

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator - the member of school staff with responsibility for co-ordinating special needs.

Setting 

A system of organising pupils into ability groups for particular subjects.

Sibling

A brother or sister.

SIC

Statement of Internal Control, formerly Controls Assurance Statement and an integral part of FMSiS

SIP 

School Improvement Partner.

SLD 

Severe Learning Difficulties (Special Needs).

SLA 

Service Level Agreement - A contract between a Governing Body and the LA specifying work to be undertaken in a given area, with cost details.

SMART 

Targets which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time related.

SMT 

Senior Management Team.

Special Measures

Is where a school is judged by OFSTED to be failing, or likely to fail, to provide an acceptable standard of Education.

Special Needs Resource Base

A unit attached to a mainstream school to cater for children with specific special needs.

Special School 

A school for children whose special educational needs cannot be met within a mainstream school.

Specialist School 

A secondary school which offers specialist curriculum provision in addition to the National Curriculum.

SSA 

Standard Spending Assessment.

SSFA 

School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

Standards Fund 

The current method by which schools and local authorities receive money from the DfES for training staff and Governors.

Statementing 

The procedure by which a child is formally assessed under the Education Act 1993 as having significant special educational needs.

Statutory Instrument

Acts of Parliament cannot always cover every rule or regulation for every detail of the subject they deal with. In order to prevent the need for an Act of Parliament every time a detail needs to be updated or added to, an Act can give the Government the power to do this at a later stage. The powers themselves are called Statutory Instruments and have the full force of law. The laws made through these powers are also known as Secondary Legislation (the parent act is also known as Primary Legislation) or Delegated Legislation. For example a Statutory Instrument can be used for the fixing of fees or charges. The Statutory Instruments can allow fees or charges to be updated without the need for a new Bill. About 3,000 Statutory Instruments are issued each year. Statutory Instruments are issued by the Stationery Office, and are just as much a part of the law of the land as the parent Act of Parliament. They are usually drafted in the legal department of the Ministry that presented the Bill to Parliament and they name the person, usually the Secretary of State or Minister, to whom authority is given to make the changes. They all contain an explanatory note that explains their scope and purpose.

STRB 

School Teacher’s Review Body.  Makes recommendations to the Secretary of State on teachers’ pay.

Supply Teacher 

Temporary Substitute teacher for those away through illness etc.

Support Staff 

Members of the school staff employed to provide services in a school but not to teach, such as classroom assistants, cleaners and school secretaries.

T

TA 

Teaching Assistant.

TDA 

Training and Development Agency - a government organisation which sets standards for a variety of roles in the teaching profession.

Teacher Assessment

A formal assessment made by a teacher when your child is aged 7, 11 and 14. Used alongside the national tests to judge a child's educational progress.

Terms of Reference

Who does what, for example, in a committee - apportionment of responsibilities eg. to the headteacher, governing body or LA. The Education (School Government)(Terms of Reference)(England) Regulations 2000 (SI2000/2122) define the respective roles and responsibilities of Governing Bodies and Headteachers.  In a committee, Terms of Reference can be the term used to define Standing Orders - documents that clearly define how the Governing Body intends to establish and review procedures of its committees. DGSS have produced excellent guides to committees’ TOR in the “effective Governing Body” documentation and CD - Rom.

Training Co-ordinator 

Training Link Governor - a role allocated to a Governor on the Governing Body; he/she oversees the development of Governors on the Governing Body.

TLR 

Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments.

U

UCAS

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service — central agency for processing applications for undergraduate courses including degree level initial teacher training courses (BEd, BA/BSc with qualified teacher status).

V

Value Added

Shows the progress made by an individual pupil or groups of pupils compared with the average progress made by similar pupils nationally between the Key Stages.

VA School

Voluntary Aided Schools have a religious ethos in keeping with the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England. These schools serve a defined area based on Parish boundaries and the GB is responsible for admission and appeal arrangements. These schools usually give priority to children from their faith.

VC School 

Voluntary Controlled Schools in England and Wales which are maintained by the Local Authority, with a foundation (generally religious) which appoints some, but not most of the GB. The LA is the Admission Authority.

Vertical Grouping 

Classes formed (in primary schools) with children of different age groups.

Virement 

The agreed transfer of money from the budget heading to which it has been allocated to another budget heading.

W

Workforce Reform 

A Government initiative to raise standards and tackle the workload of teaching staff.

X

Y

Years 1 – 13

Fifth and sixth formers no longer officially exist in the state sector.
Reception year = 4-5 year olds; Y1 = 5-6; Y2 = 6-7; Y3 = 7-8; Y4 = 8-9; Y5 = 9-10; Y6 = 10-11; Y7 = 11-12; Y8 = 12-13; Y9 = 13-14; Y10 = 14-15; Y11 = 15-16; Y12 = 16-17 ; Y13 = 17-18

Z