Education Jargon

CATs – Cognitive Ability Tests: standardised tests which some schools use in order to measure pupils’ ability to process information

Code of Practice
Statutory code for schools to follow when assessing pupils with Special Educational Needs. It ranges from Stage 1 to Stage 5.

Core Subjects – English, maths and science: all pupils must study these subjects up to Key Stage 4

Curriculum - The range and content of subjects taught within school.

DfES - Department for Education and Skills

Diagnostic Testing - Assessments which highlight specific areas of strength or weakness.

D.T. - Design Technology

E.B.D. - Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

Ed. Psy - Education Psychologist. A means of support and assessment for children with Special Educational Needs, involved with pupils at Stages 4 and 5 of the Code of Practice.

GCSE – General Certificate of Secondary Education: the national examination which pupils usually take in several subjects at age 16

GNVQ – General National Vocational Qualification: courses in vocational subjects such as manufacturing, Art and Design etc

I.C.T. - Information and communications technology (Computers)

I.E.P. - Individual Education Plan. Any child on a school's Special Needs Register will have an I.E.P. which sets out specific targets for them to achieve.

INSET – In-service Education and Training for school staff

Key Stages - The National Curriculum is divided into four main stages:

• Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2; age 5-7 years)
• Keystage Two (Years 3,4,5 and 6; age 7-11 years)
• Key Stage Three (Years 7,8, and 9; age 12-14 years)
• Key Stage Four (Years 10 and 11; age 14-16 years)

Levels - Results for the National Tests are given in levels. Roughly speaking, most pupils will move up one level every two years. The average 7 year old is expected to achieve a Level 2; the average 11 year old, a Level 4, and the average 14 year old, a Level 5 or 6.

L.E.A. - Local Education Authority

NQT – Newly Qualified Teacher: a person in his or her first year of teaching after successfully completing a training course

National Tests - These take place at the end of Key Stages One, Two and Three, at 7, 11 and 14. Results are published for 11 year olds. GCSE's are taken at the end of Key Stage Four and the results published.

OFSTED - This stands for the Office for Standards In Education, the independent body which regulates and manages school inspections in England, assessing the quality and standards of education.

Performance Tables – The published results of national examinations and tests by schools and LEAs

Q.C.A. - These letters stand for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the body which develops the curriculum and its assessment, including consistency and quality in public examinations.

SATs - These letters stand for Standard Assessment Tests - now known as End of Key Stage Assessments or Statutory Assessments.

S.E.N. - Special Educational Needs: these may be any particular needs of an Individual child within the context of education.

S.E.N.C.O - Special Educational Needs coordinator - the teacher in school responsible for 'overview of provision for children with special education needs'.

T.A. - Teacher Assessment. A very important part of the assessment of a child's ability/progress. Teacher Assessment provides an ongoing and continuous assessment of a child's ability as shown in class compared with the "snapshot" assessment of the national tests.