Glossary

AST
Advanced Skills Teacher. Teachers who wished to remain in the classroom and spend the equivalent of one day a week supporting other teachers in developing their skills and experience through the sharing of best practice ideas and approaches.

BA with QTS
Bachelor of Arts degree–level ITT qualification

BEd with QTS
Bachelor of Education degree–level ITT qualification

BSc with QTS
Science degree–level ITT qualification

BECTA
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency. The Governments’s partner in strategic development and delivery of ICT and e–learning strategy for schools

CEDP
Career Entry and Development Profile. A programme designed to help trainees and NQTs in their professional development at key points towards the end of ITT and during induction

CPD
Continuing Professional Development. Includes any activity that increases teachers’ knowledge or understanding, and their effectiveness in schools

CRB
Criminal Records Bureau. An agency that identifies candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work

DipHE
Diploma of Higher Education, Higher education qualification gained through colleges and universities

DRB
Designated recommending body, A partnership responsible for providing GTP or RTP training in England

EEA
Members of the European Economic Area are as follows: UK, France, Republic of Ireland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Malta, Netherlands, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland (under the Swiss agreement), Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lativia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia

EY
Early Years. Children aged 0–3 years

Foundation Course
A recognised higher education course designed to prepare students who have qualifications which are acceptable for entry in general, but not to a specific course of study.

Foundation Degree
Foundation Degrees are two–year higher education qualifications. They are designed to meet skills shortages at the higher technician and associate professional levels. Foundation Degrees are one level below honours degree.

GCSE
General Certificate of Seconday Education. Qualification gained in schools

GNVQ
General National Vocational Qualification. An employment based qualification

GTCE
General Teaching Council for England. An independent professional body combining statutory advisory and regulatory powers and is answerable to own members rather than to government

GTP
Graduate Teacher Programme. Employment–based ITT qualification for graduates

GTTR
Graduate Teacher Traininin Agency. An agency responsible for processing applications for Postgraduate (PGCE) ITT courses

HEI
Higher Education Institution. Organisation for further education

HLTA
Higher Level Teaching Assistant. A new programme of training and assessment for teaching support staff wanting to achieve higher level status

HNC/D
Higher National Certificate/Diploma. Qualification gained in a HEI

ICT
Information and communications technology. Use of computers, internet and email

ITT
Initial teacher training. Training that leads to the award of QTS

Key Stages
Early Years and Key Stage 1 – age 3 to 7 years
Key Stages 1 and 2 – age 5 to 11 years
Key Stages 2 and 3 – age 7 to 14 years
Key Stages 3 and 4 – age 11 to 16 years
Key Stages 4 and post–16 – age 14 to 19 years

LEA
Local Education Authority. Provide services for schools in their area and have particular responsibilities for helping schools to monitor and improve performance

LSA
Learning support assistant. Provides classroom support to trained teachers and pupils

MFL
Modern Foreign Language

NARIC (UK)
National Academic Recognised Information Centre. The national agency under contract to the DfES. The official source of information and advice on the comparability of international qualifications from over 180 countries worldwide with those in the UK

NC
National Curriculum. Education standards set for maintain schools in UK

NCLS
National College for School Leadership

NLS
National Literacy Strategy. Supports teachers, trainee teachers and others working to improve literacy in our primary schools

NQT
Newly Qualified Teacher. A teacher who has successful completed ITT and been awarded QTS

OFSTED
Office for Standards in Education. A non–ministerial government department established to take responsibility for the inspection of all schools in England, whether state or independent school

Open School Days
Open days in schools to allow potential trainee teachers the opportunity to observe life inside a school

OTT
Overseas Trained Teacher. Trained either within or outside the EEA

Pathfinder
Aimed at 14 – 19 years. Partnerships between schools, colleges, employers, training providers and universities to responding to local needs and building distinctive specialisms of local schools, colleges and training providers.

PCET
Post Compulsory Education and Training. A qualification to teach students aged 16 – 19 years and adults in Further Education Sixth Form and Colleges

PFI
Private Finance Initiative. Provides a way of funding major capital investments, without effecting public monies.

PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Postgraduate–level ITT qualification

QAA
Quality Assurance Agency. Aims to safeguard and help to improve the academic standards and quality of higher education in the UK

QCA
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. A non–department public body sponsored by DfES to maintain and develop the national curriculum, associated assessments, test and examinations

QTS
Qualified teacher status. The status achieved when trainees can demonstrate that they have met all the necessary standards. To teach in a state–maintained school as a qualified teacher you must have QTS

RB
Recommending Body. Schools, LEAs, HEI or any appropriate organisation who organises training programmes

RTP
Registered Teacher Programme. An employment–based ITT programme which enables you to complete your degreee while you train

SCITT
School-centred intial teacher training. Training provided by schools in partnership with HEI and LEAs

SEN
Special Educational Needs. Education needs for children with disabilities

Sure Start Scheme
A Government programme to deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together: early education, childcare, health and family support

TA
Teaching Assistant. Also known as classroom assistant; non-teaching assistant; learning support assistant; bilingual support assistant; and special needs assistant. Provides classroom support to trained teachers

TDA
Training and Development Agency for Schools

TES
Times Educational Supplement

TIL
Teaching Information Line. Provides advice on all aspects of teaching via the telephone

UCAS
Universities and College Admissions Service. Reponsible for processing applications for further education courses