• faq's»
• terminology

For candidates: Terminology

Key Stages

• KS3 = Years 7-9
• KS4 (aka GCSE) = Years 10-11
• KS5 (aka A-Level) = Years 12-13

National Curriculum Levels

• The grading system for Key Stage 3 – generally grades will range from 3(a-b-c) – 7(a-b-c)

Exam Boards (GCSE, A-Level)

• Organisations that set examinations and are responsible for marking them and distributing results. Design the curriculum from which students are taught at GCSE and A-Level.
• Main exam boards in the UK: Edexcel, AQA, OCR

Ofsted

• Office for Standards and Education, Children’s Services and Skills. Inspect and regulate the standards of teaching in schools by ‘rating’ them. Ofsted ratings are the measure by which schools are viewed. Ratings: OUTSTANDING (1) , GOOD (2), SATISFACTORY (3), INADEQUATE (4)

Key Terms

• DOL: Director of Learning (Head of Department)
• DOLY: Director of Learning for Year (Head of Year)
• ST: Senior Team
• NQT: Newly Qualified Teacher
• OTT: Overseas Trained Teacher
• QTS: Qualified Teacher Status
• GTC: General Teaching Council
• PGCE: Postgraduate Certificate in Education
• GTP: Graduate Teacher Programme
• AFL: Assessment for Learning
• SEN: Special Educational Needs
• LSA: Learning Support Assistant
• LST: Learning Support Teacher
• TA/CA: Teaching Assistant/ Classroom Assistant
• IEP: Individualised Education Programme
• EAL: English as an Additional Language
• SENCO: Special Educational Needs Coordinator
• CPD: Continuing Professional Development
• INSET: In-service Education and Training
• NUT: National Union of Teachers
• OFSTED: Office for Standards and Education, Children’s Services and Skills
• SOW: Scheme of Work
• LEA: Local Education Authority
• ACADEMY: A school which is directly funded by the central government and independent from the local education authority