Glossary

Association of Colleges for the Eastern Region. ACER represents the further education, tertiary, sixth form and land-based olleges in the East of England.
http://www.acer.ac.uk/

The Association of Directors of Children's Services

http://www.adcs.org.uk/

Association of Employers and Learning Providers

http://www.aelp.org.uk/

Association for Learning Technology

http://www.alt.ac.uk/

AMiE is the leadership section of ATL representing leaders and managers in schools and colleges.

http://amie.atl.org.uk/

Awarding Organisation

AoC Create is the commercial subsidiary of the Association of Colleges. Two reasons to get to know us? All the money we make is invested back to benefit AoC members – so when you work with us, you’re supporting the further education sector. And because we operate at the heart of the college sector, no-one understands its needs better.

http://www.aoc-create.co.uk

AoC Jobs is the specialist job board for the further education sector, provided by the Association of Colleges. Visit the site at www.aocjobs.com

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning. APEL is concerned with credit-rating learning outcomes (ie what a student has achieved) gained through experience usually in the workplace, either through paid employment or in voluntary work. 

Accreditation of Prior Learning. APL includes assessed learning gained from life and work experience.

Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, one of the awarding bodies in England.

http://www.aqa.org.uk/

Association of Teachers and Lectures

https://www.atl.org.uk/

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or programme.

British Association for Applied Linguistics
http://www.baal.org.uk/

A Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) is an undergraduate academic degree which prepares students for work as a teacher in schools, though in some countries additional work must be done in order for the student to be fully qualified to teach.

The British Educational Research Association (BERA) is a member-led organisation dedicated to supporting educational researchers and promoting high quality research in education.
http://www.bera.ac.uk/

British Educational Suppliers Association. The trade association for educational suppliers.
http://www.besa.org.uk

The British Institute of Learning Difficulties (The BILD)
http://www.thebild.org/

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The policy areas covered by the department include skills, higher education, innovation, science, business and trade policy.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills

A Bachelor of Science (BSc) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for science-based completed courses.

City and Guilds. A vocational awarding body in the UK.
http://www.cityandguilds.com/

Confederation of British Industry. The representative organisation providing a voice for employers at a national and international level.
http://www.cbi.org.uk/

Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment is the body responsible in Northern Ireland for advising Government on what should be taught in schools, monitoring standards of qualifications and examinations and awarding qualifications.
http://www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

Supports development of European VET policies and contributes to their implementation.

http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/Index.aspx

Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults

The Centre for Education Research and Innovation (CERI) does extensive research work which covers learning at all ages, from birth to old age. It goes beyond the formal education system. While having a particular concern with emerging trends and issues, CERI reflects on the futures of schools and universities.
http://www.oecd.org/edu/ceri/

Common Inspection Framework

The Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) is owned and run on behalf of the further education sector. The income generated from CPC collaboration will be invested into facilitating better procurement in FE institutions.
http://www.thecpc.ac.uk/

Continuing Professional Development

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) have merged to become the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). CRB checks are now called DBS checks.
https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check

Centre for Studies in Inclusive Education
http://www.csie.org.uk/

Disclosure and Barring Service, formerly known as the Criminal Records Bureau
https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check

The Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for education and children's services.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education

Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions

Originally any sort of examination on a computer, but it is starting to become more common referring to work submitted and marked by computer and not by hand. This can include essays (there are a number of research projects being done comparing the accuracy of work marked by hand as opposed to work marked by software).

The central concept is learning online, either from software on a computer or accessing materials from the internet, but in general it applies to students learning in a distance learning environment whether they are studying from home, or work, but not in a classroom or lecture setting with other students.

English as an Additional Language

English for Academic Purposes

Edexcel is a Pearson company. Pearson Education Limited (Pearson) is the UK's largest awarding organisation, offering academic and vocational qualifications and training to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally.
http://www.edexcel.com/Pages/Home.aspx

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) funds and regulates education and training for students to the age of 19. The EFA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Education.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/education-funding-agency

English as a Foreign Language

The Educational Institute of Scotland is Scotland’s largest education trade union.
http://www.eis.org.uk/

English Language Teaching

Education Maintenance Allowance can be claimed if studying in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales. EMA is now closed in England.
https://www.gov.uk/education-maintenance-allowance-ema

European Social Fund
http://ec.europa.eu/esf/home.jsp

English for Speakers of Other Languages

The Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues.
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/

Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) is the trade association for vocational awarding bodies in the UK.
http://www.awarding.org.uk/

Further Education

The Further Education Trust for Leadership - www.fetl.org.uk

Foundation Learning

Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy

Functional Skills

Free Standing Mathematics Qualification - suite of Mathematical Qualifications available at Levels 1 to 3 in the National Qualifications Framework

Full time

General Certificate of Secondary Education a key qualification spanning Levels 1 and 2 of the National Qualifications Framework and primarily taken at the end of key stage 4

Grants for Education, Support and Training (CPD Programme in Wales)

General Teaching Council for England

General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland

General Teaching Council for Scotland

General Teaching Council for Wales

Graduate Teacher Programme - this programme is designed to allow schools to employ unqualified teachers who are preparing for qualified teaching status assessment, assess them against the standards, and devise individual training plans for them.

Graduate Teacher Training Registry

Recognised membership body for specialist HE providers

http://guildhe.ac.uk/

Higher Education

Higher Education Academy – responsible for supporting academic staff with professional recognition, networking and development opportunities, and advice and support throughout their careers.
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/home

Higher Education Funding Council for England
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/

Higher Education Institutions - these encompass colleges of higher education, university colleges and universities.

Higher Education Statistics Agency. HESA is the official non-governmental agency that collects, distributes and analyses HE data

http://www.hesa.ac.uk/

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT).

Institute for Learning (FE professional body)
http://www.ifl.ac.uk/

Individual Learning Plan 

The Individualised Learner Record (ILR) is a collection of data about students and their learning that is requested from providers in the further education and skills sector.
http://www.theia.org.uk/ilr/

In-Service Education of Teachers (INSET) days are one of a series of days in most schools/colleges during term time,  on which school sessions are not required to be run, and the pupils do not attend school. On the inset day, the staff are required to attend training or complete administration tasks.

Institute of Education, University of London
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/

International Survey of Adult Skills
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-survey-of-adult-skills-2012

Information technology (IT) is the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data, often in the context of a business or other enterprise. 

Initial Teacher Education

Initial Teacher Training

Information Technology in Teacher Education

Joint Academic Network (Ja.net) is the UK’s research and education network.
https://www.ja.net/

Job Centre Plus is a brand used by the UK Department for Work and Pensions for its working-age support service in the United Kingdom, its services offered directly by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Joint Council for Qualifications
http://www.jcq.org.uk/

Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) represents the UK further and higher education sector on the international educational technology standards initiatives.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/

Joint Mathematical Council of the UK
http://www.jmcuk.org.uk/

Introduced through the Education Reform Act 1988. Learning in maintained and special schools is divided into different periods of learning:

The stages are as follows:

Key stage 0 covers students aged 3 to 5
Key stage 1 covers students aged 5 to 7
Key stage 2 covers students aged 7 to 11
Key stage 3 covers students aged 11 to 14
Key stage 4 covers students aged 14 to 16
Key stage 5 covers students aged 16 to 19 (Sixth Form, FE colleges)

Local Authority

Learning Aims Reference Application

Local Education Authority

Local Enterprise Company (part of the Scottish Enterprise Network) is a public-sector organisation in Scotland with responsibility for local economic development activities.

Local Enterprise Partnership

Local Government Association
http://www.local.gov.uk/

Learners with Learning Difficulties and or Disabilities

Labour Market Intelligence - the data includes information about the past, present and future structure and working of the labour market and the factors that influence it.  Included is information on occupations at a local, regional and national level, average earnings, skill shortages, demand by employers and education levels.

Learning Management System (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of e-learning education courses or training programs

Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) is committed to improving mathematics education and promotes teaching and learning through different strands of activity.
http://www.mei.org.uk/

Minimum Levels of Performance replaced by MS

Minimum Standards. Nationally set standards for qualifications set by the Department for Education and the Skills Funding Agency annually

National Association of Advisers for Computers in Education (NAACE) is the ICT association. They are a community of educators, technologists and policy makers who share a vision for the role of technology in advancing education.
http://www.naace.co.uk/

National Association of Mathematics Advisers
http://www.nama.org.uk/

National Association for Numeracy and Mathematics in Colleges
http://www.nanamic.org.uk/

National Audit Office

National Association of Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults 

Association of National Specialist Colleges (Natspec) is the membership association for independent specialist colleges that provide further education for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities
http://www.natspec.org.uk/

National Database of Accredited Qualifications 

Non-departmental public body

National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
http://www.nesta.org.uk/

National Forum of Engineering Centres

National Foundation for Educational Research

National Institute for Economic and Social Research
http://niesr.ac.uk/

The National Learning Network (NLN) is a national partnership programme aiming to increase the uptake of Information and Learning Technology (ILT) across post-16 education in England.
http://www.nln.ac.uk/

Newly Qualified Teacher

The National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy (NRDC) is a consortium of partners, dedicated to conducting research and development projects into adult literacy, numeracy, ESOL and ICT.
http://www.nrdc.org.uk/

The National Union of Students is an organisation that promotes, defends and extends the rights of students and develops and champions strong local students' unions
http://www.nus.org.uk/

National Vocational Qualification

Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR) is a UK awarding body, providing qualifications for learners of all ages at school, college, in work or through part-time learning programmes awarding bodies in England.
http://www.ocr.org.uk/

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
http://www.oecd.org/unitedkingdom/

The Office for Fair Access is an independent public body that helps safeguard and promote fair access to higher education.

http://www.offa.org.uk/

The Office of Examination Qualifications and Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
http://ofqual.gov.uk/

Office for Standards in Education
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/

Office of the Independent Adjudicator the final external arbiter for HE student complaints
http://www.oiahe.org.uk/

Offenders Learning and Skills Service

l'Organisation mondiale pour l'education prescolaire. World Organisation for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omepuk.org.uk/

Overseas Trained Teacher Programme

The Open University

Post-Compulsory Education and Training
http://www.pcet.net/

Postgraduate Certificate in Education -a one-year postgraduate qualification needed to teach in English state schools

Programme for International Student Assessment - a collaborative study among 28 member countries of OECD and four others to assess the knowledge and skills of 15-year olds in literacy, numeracy and science.
http://www.oecd.org/pisa/

Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties

Programme of study in individual subjects of the national curriculum taught during the four key stages

Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
http://www.parliament.uk/post

Part-Time

Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance Agency , the Agency responsible for HE external quality assurance
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) is the national credit transfer system for education qualification in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Qualification Success Rate

Qualified teacher status required by teachers to work in maintained schools and special schools in England and Wales

Research and Practice in Adult Literacy - independent network organisation focusing on the role of literacy in adult life.
http://rapal.org.uk/

Recognising and Recording Progress and achievement-a recognised method for recording progress for students with learning difficulties or others on non qualification courses

Research Excellence Framework – system to assess the quality of research in UK HEI. It will replace the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and will be completed in 2014.
http://www.ref.ac.uk/

Royal Society of Arts
http://www.thersa.org/

The distributor funding from the Scottish Government to the countries colleges and universities 

Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) is the professional association for staff and educational developers in the UK,
http://www.seda.ac.uk/

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) the Agency funds and regulates education and training for adults, except higher education. The SFA is an Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/

The Student Loans Company works with Local Authorities in Wales, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, the Education and Library boards in Northern Ireland, Higher Education Institutions and HM Revenue & Customs, to provide student financial support in the UK.

http://www.slc.co.uk/

Severe Learning Difficulties

Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities

Supporting Professionalism in Admissions (SPA) works with universities and colleges to enhance good practice, excellence and professionalism in the recruitment and selection of students to higher education.-

http://www.spa.ac.uk/

Specific Learning Difficulties

Scottish Qualifications Authority is the national body in Scotland responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment and certification of qualifications other than degrees 

Sector Skills Councils are independent, employer-led, UK–wide organisations designed to build a skills system that is driven by employer demand

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – key subjects covered.

All students in full or part-time education aged 16 to 19 are expected to follow a study programme tailored to their individual needs, education and employment goals, including students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language

The Times Educational Supplement

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Teachers' Pension Scheme now known as Teachers’ Pensions

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is the national trade union centre in the UK, representing the vast majority of organised workers.
http://www.tuc.org.uk/

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
http://www.ucas.com/

Universities and Colleges Employers Association
http://www.ucea.ac.uk/

Universities Council for the Education of Teachers
http://www.ucet.ac.uk/

University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate. The non-teaching department of the University of Cambridge and a not-for-profit organisation. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of UCLES.
http://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/

University and College Union. A trade union formed by the merger of Natfhe and AUT. UCU is the largest trade union and professional association for academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff working in further and higher education throughout the UK.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/

University for Industry. A charity that provides funding for initiatives that improve the accessibility and delivery of adult learning through the use of technology.
http://www.ufi.co.uk/

UK Commission for Employment and Skills
http://www.ukces.org.uk/

Union Learning Fund. Fund, sponsored by the DBIS, that aims to support unions working in partnership projects to develop workplace learning opportunities for employees
http://www.unionlearningfund.org.uk/

Unique Learner Number

Union Learning Representative. The union learning representative is a category of union activist, trained in advising members on learning needs and opportunities.

University Technical College

Universities UK (UUK) is the recognised membership organisation for universities in the UK.
http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/

Virtual Learning Environment

Work Based Learning

Workplace Basic Skills Network (WBSN) is now known as The Network. It is a national organisation based at Lancaster University working with other agencies to help to establish and manage workplace basic skills development.

Workers' Educational Association (WEA) is a charity and the largest voluntary sector provider of adult education in the UK.
http://www.wea.org.uk/

An approach to Skills for Life that demands literacy, numeracy and language provision be a priority for all levels of the organisation. Embedding Skills for Life in teaching programmes is central to this. 

Youth Cohort Study

Young Offender Institution

Youth Offender Panel

Youth Offending Team