Education Jargon . . what does it mean . . ?

There are many short-hand words, phrases and abbreviations that you may hear in schools. Some of the more common ones are listed below. You should always ask to have abbreviations explained if you do not understand them.

 

Academic Council: Teachers who lead the development of the curriculum throughout the school.

 

Advisory board: A committee made up of various members of the school community, including parents, teachers and students.

 

Compulsory Social Service: This programme applies for Year 12 and Year 13 students and is aimed at helping disadvantaged community groups such as “elderly homes”, “shelter homes” or “orphanages”.

 

Core Curriculum: English, Mathematics and Science and ICT

 

DFES: The department for Education and Skills

 

DT: Design and Technology

 

EAL: English as an additional language

 

ELS: English Language support

 

Foundation subjects: History, Geography, Art, P.E, PSHE & DT.

 

ICFES Examination: ICFES (Instituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Education Superior) is a State Examination which must be presented by the Colombian Year 13 students as an entrance requirement for Colombian Universities.

 

ICT:  Information and Communications Technology (Computers)

 

IEP: Individual Education Plan, a teaching programme for children with special educational needs that is put into place by the school and reviewed regularly.

 

IGCSE: International General Certificate of Secondary Education, the common public examination at age 16

 

INSET: In-service Education and Training.

Jeans Day: A day when students can wear their own clothes by making a donation to the school council fund or the school charity.

 

Key Stages:  The National Curriculum is divided into four key stages KS1 aged 5 - 7; KS2 aged 7 - 11; KS3 aged 11 - 14; KS4 aged 14 - 16. 

 

National Curriculum:  (NC) The curriculum required by UK law to be taught in all schools.

 

NQT: New Qualified Teacher

 

P.E: Physical Education

 

P.S.H.E: Physical, social, health Education

 

PEI: Proyecto Educativo Institucional (Institutional Educative Project) relates to the educational projects offered by our school with regards to study plans, objectives, evaluation criteria, etc

 

Personero:  Is a student of Year 13 who is in charge of promoting the students’ rights and duties among school.

 

Prefect: A prefect is a student from Year 10 to Year 13 and his/her role is service, not privilege. This is a highly distinguished recognition and is a matter of pride and responsibility. Prefects are selected by the school staff based on students demonstrating attributes such as a positive attitude and total commitment and dedication to academics and sporting/cultural activities

 

Promotions Committee: A committee that reviews the development of all students, identifying the exceptional needs of individuals. This committee is made up of members of DEN, The head of Sections, teachers and a parent representative.

 

PTA: Parent Teacher Association

 

QCA:  Qualification and Curriculum Authority – The organisation that writes and arranges National curriculum tests.

 

Reading Age: A child's ability to read may be compared against an average national ability level at any given age. The age level a child attains is his or her reading age

 

SATs: Standard Assessment Tests. End of Key Stage SATs are taken by children in Year 2 and 6. Students in year 3, 4 and 5 SATs also sit SATs to assess progress over the academic year.

 

SEN:  Special Educational Needs

 

SMT: Senior management team – This team is made up of: the director, vice-rector, Heads of Section including the Head of Spanish and the admissions officer.

 

Student Council: Elected members of the student body from Year 3 to Year 13.

 

Truancy:  See Unauthorised Absence

 

Unauthorised Absence: Absence from school which is not otherwise authorised.

 

We sometimes forget that parents do not always understand the short-hand phrases with which we are so familiar with!