School words, explained.

A plain-English guide to the language of education. Some terms belong to a particular nation; we make that clear below.

Find a word or abbreviation

60 terms to explore

A levels: England · Wales · Northern Ireland
Subject-based qualifications often studied after GCSEs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Course combinations and entry requirements vary; they are one route into further study or employment.
Sixth form, college and the next stage of learning
Academy: England
A state-funded school in England run by an academy trust. It is independent of local-authority control and does not charge tuition fees.
School types across the UK explained
Additional learning needs (ALN): Wales
The Welsh term for learning needs that call for additional learning provision. The Welsh system has its own definitions and processes; it is not simply another name for an English EHC plan.
Additional learning needs in Wales: ALN and IDPs
Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCo): Wales
The member of staff who coordinates an education setting’s approach to additional learning needs in Wales. Families can ask who holds this role and how to arrange a conversation.
Additional learning needs in Wales: ALN and IDPs
Additional learning provision (ALP): Wales
The extra educational support identified for a learner with additional learning needs in Wales. An individual development plan records the provision to be made.
Additional learning needs in Wales: ALN and IDPs
Additional support needs (ASN): Scotland
Scotland’s term for circumstances in which a learner needs extra or different support to benefit from education. Needs can arise for many reasons and do not have to be permanent.
Additional support for learning in Scotland
Admission arrangements: Across the UK
The published rules and process for applying to a school. They may explain entry points, application dates and how places are allocated when demand is high.
School admissions: a practical family guide
Admissions authority: Across the UK
The organisation responsible for a school’s admissions decisions or arrangements. Which body holds the role depends on the nation and school type, so check the published information for the particular school.
School admissions: a practical family guide
Apprenticeship: Across the UK
A route combining paid work with structured training. Programmes, levels and entry requirements differ across the UK and between occupations.
Vocational learning and apprenticeships explained
Assessment: Across the UK
A way of understanding what a learner knows or can do. It can include classroom observation, discussion, practical work, quizzes, coursework or formal examinations.
School assessments and reports explained
Broad general education (BGE): Scotland
The broad stage of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence running from early learning through the end of S3. It covers a range of learning before the senior phase.
Schools in Scotland: a parent’s guide
Catchment area: Across the UK
A defined geographical area connected with a school’s admissions arrangements. Living inside it does not automatically guarantee a place; the actual rules and available places still matter.
School catchment areas and distance rules
Co-ordinated support plan (CSP): Scotland
A statutory support plan in Scotland for children or young people who meet specific criteria involving complex or multiple needs and significant coordinated support. Not every learner with ASN needs a CSP.
Additional support for learning in Scotland
Curriculum: Across the UK
The planned learning a school offers, including subjects, knowledge, skills and experiences. The four UK nations have different curriculum systems, and the school’s own programme matters too.
How the UK school system works
Curriculum for Excellence: Scotland
Scotland’s curriculum framework for learners aged 3 to 18. It includes broad general education and a senior phase, with progression that takes account of the individual learner.
Schools in Scotland: a parent’s guide
Curriculum for Wales: Wales
The Welsh framework for learning from ages 3 to 16. Schools develop their curriculum within this framework, with attention to progression and a broad range of learning.
Going to school in Wales
Deferred entry: Across the UK
An arrangement that delays starting school. The term and its effect on year-group placement differ across the UK, so confirm both the start date and the intended cohort.
Starting primary school with confidence
Early learning and childcare (ELC): Scotland
The term widely used in Scotland for early years education and care before or around the start of school. Check local provision and the arrangements that apply to the child.
Nursery and preschool: a family guide
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): England
England’s framework for early years learning, development and care, including Reception. It does not describe the early years curriculum across all four UK nations.
Reception and the early years explained
Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI): Northern Ireland
The body providing education and training inspection services in Northern Ireland. Its reports should be read in the context of that system and their publication date.
How to read school inspection information
Education, health and care plan (EHC plan): England
A statutory plan in England that records a child or young person’s assessed needs and specified provision across relevant services. Many pupils receive support without having one.
Special educational needs support in England
English as an additional language (EAL): Across the UK
A description used when a learner uses or has experience of languages besides English. It does not in itself identify a special educational need or indicate low ability.
English as an additional language at school
Estyn: Wales
The education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its reports give evidence about provision and improvement within the Welsh inspection system.
How to read school inspection information
Foundation Stage: Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the first two primary years, P1 and P2. It is a different national framework from England’s similarly named Early Years Foundation Stage.
Schools in Northern Ireland: a parent’s guide
Free school meals: Across the UK
Meals provided without charge under the rules of the relevant scheme. Age coverage, financial eligibility and application arrangements vary between UK nations and can change over time.
School meals and free school meal support
GCSE: England · Wales · Northern Ireland
A subject qualification commonly taken towards the end of secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Specifications, grading and assessment arrangements are not identical across those systems.
School assessments and reports explained
Governing board: England · Wales · Northern Ireland
The group responsible for strategic oversight of a school, with the exact role depending on the school’s structure and nation. It is distinct from the staff who run everyday teaching and operations.
School types across the UK explained
Higher: Scotland
A Scottish qualification commonly studied during the senior phase. Subject choices and the qualifications required for a particular next step should be checked with the school or course provider.
Schools in Scotland: a parent’s guide
Individual development plan (IDP): Wales
The plan used within the Welsh additional learning needs system to record a learner’s needs and additional learning provision. It is a Welsh statutory planning document, not an English EHC plan.
Additional learning needs in Wales: ALN and IDPs
INSET day: Across the UK
A day set aside for staff training or development when pupils are usually not attending ordinary lessons. Schools publish their own dates, which can differ from neighbouring schools.
School term dates and holidays: planning the year
Key stage: England · Northern Ireland
A block of school years used in England and Northern Ireland. The year numbers and age ranges differ, so a key-stage label needs a country context.
How the UK school system works
Local authority: England · Scotland · Wales
A local council with education responsibilities. Its role can include admissions, support and other services, but the precise responsibilities depend on the nation and school type.
School admissions: a practical family guide
Maintained school: England · Wales
A school supported through a local authority within the relevant maintained-school system. The term is used in England and Wales and should not be confused with every state-funded school.
School types across the UK explained
Middle school: England
A school sitting between first and upper schools in a three-tier structure found in some areas of England. Age ranges vary, so check local transfer arrangements.
Middle schools and the three-tier school system
Multi-academy trust (MAT): England
An academy trust in England that runs more than one academy. The trust has governance responsibilities across its schools, while local arrangements differ.
School types across the UK explained
National 5: Scotland
A Scottish qualification that may be taken during the senior phase. It should be understood within Scotland’s qualification framework rather than treated as an identical copy of a GCSE.
School assessments and reports explained
Nursery: Across the UK
An early years setting or class offering education and care before or around the start of primary school. Sessions, ages, funding and the balance of care and education vary.
Nursery and preschool: a family guide
Ofsted: England
The inspectorate responsible for inspecting schools and other relevant education and care provision in England. Its role and reporting system are distinct from those in the other UK nations.
How to read school inspection information
Oversubscription criteria: Across the UK
The published rules used to prioritise applications when more children apply than there are places. Read the current rules for the particular school and entry year.
School admissions: a practical family guide
Parent Council: Scotland
A body representing parents’ collective views in Scottish schools. Its work concerns wider school matters and family involvement rather than individual cases about children or staff.
Working well with your child’s school
Parents’ evening: Across the UK
A scheduled opportunity to discuss a child’s progress and experience with teachers. It is helpful to bring a small number of specific questions and agree practical next steps.
Making the most of parents’ evening
Pastoral care: Across the UK
The support a school provides for pupils’ wellbeing, relationships and everyday experience. A class teacher, tutor or pastoral team may be the first contact, depending on the school.
Friendships and belonging at school
Phonics: Across the UK
An approach to reading that teaches relationships between written letters or letter groups and the sounds in spoken words. It is part of learning to read, alongside understanding and enjoying language.
Reading and phonics: helping children enjoy books
Post-primary school: Northern Ireland
The usual Northern Ireland term for the stage after primary education. Its year numbering differs from secondary schools in England and Wales.
Schools in Northern Ireland: a parent’s guide
Primary 1 (P1): Scotland · Northern Ireland
The first primary-school year in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It does not mean children start at exactly the same age in both countries.
Starting primary school with confidence
Pupil premium: England
Additional funding for state-funded schools in England intended to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. It is school funding, not an individual cash allowance for a family.
School meals and free school meal support
Reception: England · Wales
The first class in many primary schools in England and Wales, normally before Year 1. Its curriculum and admissions context differ between the two nations.
Reception and the early years explained
Safeguarding: Across the UK
The work of protecting children from harm and supporting their welfare. Schools have procedures and named contacts for concerns; ask the school which route to use.
Accessibility and inclusion in school life
School report: Across the UK
A school’s written account of a pupil’s progress, achievements and areas for development. Formats vary, and families can ask teachers to explain unfamiliar judgements or next steps.
Making the most of parents’ evening
Senior leadership team (SLT): Across the UK
The headteacher or principal and other leaders responsible for key areas of school life. Exact job titles and responsibilities differ by school.
Working well with your child’s school
Sixth form: England · Wales · Northern Ireland
The school or college stage commonly associated with post-16 study in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland usually refers to the senior phase instead.
Sixth form, college and the next stage of learning
Special educational needs (SEN): England · Northern Ireland
A term used in England and Northern Ireland for learning needs requiring special educational provision. Each system has its own definitions and processes.
Special educational needs support in England
Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): England
The combined term commonly used in England when discussing special educational needs and disability. The two can overlap, but they are not interchangeable.
Special educational needs support in England
Special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO): England · Northern Ireland
The member of staff who coordinates a school’s special educational needs provision in England or Northern Ireland. Other nations use different terminology and support arrangements.
Special educational needs support in England
Special school: Across the UK
A school providing education designed around particular additional or special educational needs. Provision and admission arrangements vary, so the individual setting and support requirements matter.
Accessibility and inclusion in school life
Statement of special educational needs: Northern Ireland
A formal document in Northern Ireland describing a child’s assessed needs and the provision to meet them. It belongs to the Northern Ireland system; England and Wales use different statutory plans.
Special educational needs in Northern Ireland
T Level: England
A two-year technical qualification programme in England combining classroom learning with an industry placement. Providers set entry requirements, and available subject routes should be checked locally.
Vocational learning and apprenticeships explained
Transition: Across the UK
A move between stages, classes or education settings. Good preparation includes sharing useful information, familiarising the child with the new routine and identifying a trusted adult.
Starting secondary school with confidence
Tutor group: Across the UK
A regular group often used in secondary schools for registration, communication and pastoral support. The tutor may be a useful first contact even when other teachers teach subject lessons.
What happens in a typical school day?
Wraparound care: Across the UK
Childcare before or after the ordinary school day, such as breakfast or after-school provision. Booking arrangements, ages, fees and availability depend on the provider.
Breakfast clubs and after-school care