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Jargon Buster
See also Common Abbreviations and Acronyms
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Ability Grouping
Method of assigning pupils, classes or groups according to particular abilities. See also Setting.
Every OFSTED inspection report identifies key issues which the school must address and for which the Governing Body must produce an action plan to address these shortcomings.
Activity Led Funding
A method of identifying school budgets based upon the level and nature of planned or expected activity as represented in standard curriculum and management/Administration models.
Additional Governors
When an OFSTED inspection identifies a school as being in need of special measures, the LEA, and the diocese in the case of voluntary aided schools, can appoint additional governors and thereby increase the experience and overall strength of the Governing Body.
Admissions Policy
Policy of the LEA or the Governing Body (Voluntary Aided and Foundation schools) outlining criteria by which pupils will be admitted to a school. Denominational voluntary aided schools must have regard to any diocesan advice. See also Parental Choice, Enrolment and Open Enrolment.
Agenda 21
These are regular international Governmental meetings, which address environmental issues. This agreement came from the Rio Summit and has the full support of Dudley Council. The agreement addresses ways in which decisions and practice locally can contribute to environmental improvement.
Agreed Syllabus
Non-denominational programme of religious education adopted by LEAs for use in community schools. See also Religious Education.
Ancillary Staff
Clerical, welfare, technical, care-taking or supervisory staff employed in schools. Also called Non-teaching or Support Staff.
Appraisal
Process of helping teachers via a structured discussion. Support and development for teachers based on interview with line manager.
Assessment
Measuring and evaluation of skills, capabilities and limitations of pupils. Methods include tests and examinations. The National Curriculum key stages are assessed by Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs). Procedures for formal assessment of children with special needs are laid down by the Education Act of 1996.
At Risk Register
Individual schools list children identified by Social Services who are, or may be, in danger of emotional, physical or sexual abuse or mental cruelty from within their families.
Attainment Targets
Attainment targets consist of a collection of objectives for each subject of the National Curriculum. They range from Level 1 to Level 10.
Audit Commission
Independent body set up by Government to monitor the use of funds by local authorities and certain other bodies.
AWPU
Age Weighted Pupil Unit; the basis for calculating most of the funds allocated to a school.
B
Banding
The division of a year group of pupils into broad ability bands each containing several forms.
Best Value
A duty to deliver services to clear standards by the most effective, economic and efficient means available using the "4 Cs"
- Challenge - why do you do what you do?
- Compare - does anyone do it better?
- Consult - do other people know what you do and what do they think about it?
- Compete - are you getting the best deal?
C
Capital Expenditure
The cost of establishing a permanent provision like a new school or wing, or meeting major expenditure on e.g. repairs. The LEA has to obtain Credit Approval by the DfES to borrow the money required, and repays it, plus loan charges, over a number of years. Advice on the special arrangements for denominational schools is obtainable from the respective dioceses.
Catchment Area
The 1988 Education Reform Act enabled parents to express a preference of schools. Before this each school had a designated geographic catchment area from which it drew the majority of its pupils. By the same token any pupil living within the catchment area had an automatic right to attend that school. See Greenwich.
Categories of Schools
From September 1999, under new constitutional arrangements, there are new categories of school - Foundation, Aided and Community Schools. As well as changes to names there are new numbers of governors for each Governing Body.
Charges
Charges to parents for pupils’ activities outside school hours if these are not needed for an exam syllabus or the National Curriculum. Charges can be made for individual music tuition in school hours and for board and lodgings on residential field trips and visits.
Circular
Policy statements issued by the DfES to LEAs. They do not have the status of law but are the main line of communication of Government thinking and guidance
Classroom Assistants
Member of staff employed to provide specific help within the classroom for teachers or pupils.
Community Governor
Representatives chosen by the elected parent, teacher and LEA appointed governors.
Code of Practice
Often used as short hand for the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. This outlines the in-school procedures for providing support for special education needs pupils and the stage at which external support should be obtained.
Comprehensive
A Secondary school designed to educate children from the whole ability range.
Controlled School
These are Voluntary Schools which were originally Church Foundations. However, responsibility for the school has, under controlled status, been completely transferred to the LEA with the proviso that the Foundation Governors are consulted over the appointment of the head teacher and teachers of religious education.
Core Curriculum
English, Maths and Science must be studied by all pupils in the National Curriculum.
Curriculum
The entire learning opportunities offered by a school. This will include all subjects, those which are part of the National Curriculum and those which are not. Also included are the experiences that pupils have as part of the school community - the responsibilities they take on and the contribution they make.
D
Delegated Budget
The amount of money allocated to each school to be administered by the Governing Body and the head teacher.
Differentiation
Adapting work to meet individual needs or the right match between what is taught, how it is taught and the individual characteristics of the pupil.
DoE
An LEA’s Director of Education. Sometimes called Chief Education Officer, County Education Officer or Secretary for Education.
Dudley Association of Governing Bodies (DAGB)
Membership of DAGB is open to all Governing Bodies in Dudley schools upon payment of the membership subscription. DAGB aims to provide opportunities for collaboration between schools, a forum for the exchange of ideas and mutual support and dialogue with the Local Education Authority on matters affecting Dudley schools.
Dudley Grid for Learning (DGfL)
Funded by Dudley MBC and by Private Finance Initiative, Central Government have provided substantial financial support to enable Dudley to work in partnership with Research Machines (the winners of an open bidding).
Beginning in 1999, all Dudley schools are now equipped with a high level of hardware and software. The focus of this is for pupils to enhance their learning opportunities and achievement. Chair of Governors signed the contract for ten years.
Dyslexia
Used to describe the specific learning difficulties of children who have difficulty in acquiring reading, spelling, writing and Numeracy skills. Sometimes called SpLD.
Dyspraxia
Used to describe an impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement. It is an immaturity in the way the brain processes information which results in messages not being properly or fully transmitted.
E
Education Development Plan (EDP)
Required by the 1998 Standards and Framework Act. Summary of the main priorities of the LEA, therefore its intended achievements, to support education within the LEA. The EDP covers a three-year period.
Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD)
Includes both neurotic and anti-social behaviour. Replaces the term Maladjustment.
Educational Action Zone (EAZ)
A scheme promoted by Central Government, through which additional Government funding is provided for a group of schools to fund a specific programme of educational improvement.
Educational Social Worker (ESW)
Also known as an Educational Welfare Officer. The Educational Social Worker is employed to help with social problems and attendance issues. Visits homes, checks on absentees, etc., in liaison with the school.
Educational Psychologist
Experienced teacher, with a Degree in Psychology and postgraduate qualifications in Educational Psychology, who studies the intellectual, emotional, social and physical developments of children and young people.
Enrolment
Schools must admit pupils up to the number they admitted in 1979 - 1980, or the year immediately preceding. In force from the Education Reform Act 1988 (now consolidated in the 1996 Education Act). See also Open Enrolment, Parental Choice.
Equal Opportunities Policy
The school’s policy and practice on gender, race, sexuality and disability.
Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG)
A strand of Standards Fund Money, which must be spent in this area of work. It replaces the Section 11 money originally from the Home Office.
Exclusion
Suspension of a pupil from school for a fixed period or permanently, on disciplinary grounds.
F
Fair Funding
Builds on Local Management of Schools by allowing schools to develop further their capacity for self-government by increased delegation of responsibility through funding. The system was introduced in April 1999 and is used by LEAs to calculate the budgets for all schools maintained by them. It also sets the framework for the financial relationship that operates between schools and their LEA.
Falling Rolls
The decline of the number of school pupils, caused by the falling birth rate or other factors.
Field Study Trips
Journeys undertaken by groups of pupils to enable them to gain first-hand practical experience in subjects such as Geography, Biology and Environmental Studies. See also Charges.
Formula Funding
Part of the Local Management of School (LMS) scheme, which calculates the sums of money, which the LEA passes to each school.
Foundation Governors
Governors appointed by the Foundation Body (usually a Church) of a Voluntary school. See also Governors.
Foundation Stage
The stage, which was previously called Early Years, applies to children aged three to five whether they are at home or in a toddler group, nursery class or Reception class of a primary or infant school.
Foundation Subjects
Technology, history, geography, a modern foreign language, art, music and PE for pupils aged 11 to 16.
Free School Meals
As from April 1988, the discretion to provide Free School Meals was removed by the Social Security Act 1986. The only free meals which can now be provided are for children whose parents are on Income Support. It is up to the Local Authority to decide what to provide. This figure also triggers an element of the delegated LMS budget.
Full-time Equivalent (Fte)
Part-time staff employed or part-time students in Further Education.
G
Gifted and Talented
Gifted pupils are those pupils who have abilities in one or more subjects in the statutory school curriculum other than art and design, music and PE.
Talented pupils are those pupils who have abilities in art and design, music, PE or sports or performing arts such as dance and drama.
Both terms are relative and refer to the top 5% to 10% of any school , regardless of the ability profile of pupils at the school.
Governors
A Governing Body oversees the conduct, curriculum and performance of a school. It includes elected representatives of the parents and teachers, LEA representatives and people co-opted by the rest of the Governing Body. See also Community Governors, Instrument of Government, NAGM and NGC.
Greenwich
This court ruling meant that a child living in another Local Education Authority had an equal right to be considered for a place at that school on the criteria of distance.
H
HEADLAMP
Head Teachers’ Leadership and Management Programme. Newly appointed head teachers can use this grant for their training and development during the first two years.
Home-School Agreement
Required by the 1998 Act to be in place in all schools this is a signed contract between the school and the families of pupils. In general, it outlines what is expected of pupils and what in return the school will expect of itself. There is no legal requirement for parents to sign.
Home-School Liaison Teacher
Teacher responsible for working with parents of pupils and sometimes for maintaining the school’s links with other services.
I
Inclusion
Inclusion is an on-going process which involves increasing opportunities for pupils and students, whatever their needs, to learn alongside their peers, and participate in the social life of their local mainstream schools, colleges and universities. Inclusion means enabling pupils to maximise their achievements and play a full and lifelong role in the life of society.
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
The acquisition, production, transformation, storage and transmission of data by electronic means in vocal, pictorial, textural or numeric forms, so as to facilitate interaction between people and between people and machines.
Individual Schools Budget
The total funds delegated to each school to administer.
INSET
In-Service Education and Training of Teachers. Courses for practising teachers to enable them to update their skills and professional development.
Instrument of Government
A legal document outlining the membership of the Governing Body and the name of the school and, in the case of a denominational voluntary aided school, a requirement that the school is to be conducted in accordance with the principles of the church by which it was founded.
K
Key Stages
The ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16 when all pupils will be tested to register what they have achieved in relation to attainment targets set for those stages by the National Curriculum (KS1: 5 - 7, KS2: 7 - 11, KS3: 11 - 14, KS4: 14 - 16). In addition pupils in the Foundation Stage 3- 5 will be assessed at the end of Reception year using the Foundation Stage profile.
L
LEA
Local Education Authorities are elected Councils serving Counties, Metropolitan Boroughs, London Boroughs and Unitary Authorities. Each has an Education Committee or Lead Member of a Cabinet. The principle administrative officer is the Director of Education or Chief Education Officer.
LEA Code of Practice
In recent years, central government has made increasingly clear statements about what Education Departments should and should not do. This is clarified in this document and is based on the principle that ‘Schools are responsible for their own performance and the achievements of their pupils. Autonomy does not mean isolation’ In turn the highest priority for the LEA is to promote high standards’.
Leadership Group
Those members of staff in a school who have specific responsibilities for managing aspects of work. In addition they play a key role in handling Performance Management in those areas.
Learning Difficulty
The inability to acquire new skills at the same rate as children of the same age. There are three levels - Mild, Moderate and Severe. See also Special Educational Needs.
Licensed Teacher
Two-year school based training for anyone over 26 with appropriate experience and qualifications to obtain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Link Governor
Acts as a contact point for training within the Governing Body. They do not have to be trainers themselves. They receive information about training opportunities and resources and work with the Chair, the head of the school and their colleagues to identify needs and develop the effectiveness of the Governing Body.
Local Schools Budget
Total amount of funds available for education including central budget and all individual budgets.
LMS
Local Management of Schools under which schools (and their Governors) are delegated the budget and are therefore responsible for staffing, finance, building and curriculum delivery.
M
Main Scale or Spine
Under the new pay structure brought about by the Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Act 1987, Scale Posts were abolished and all teachers, with the exception of Heads and Deputy Heads, are on a common spine. See also Performance Related Pay.
Moderation
Checking the results of assessments and examinations by independent external assessors. This helps to ensure similar standards across all schools in the marking of students’ work.
Modular Course
A course comprising of a number of parts or modules. Students may be able to choose which modules to study from the total available.
Multicultural Education
Education designed to ensure that all children are aware of, and sensitive to, our multicultural society and respect the cultures of minority communities.
N
National Curriculum
Subjects prescribed by the Secretary of State for Education for teaching to all pupils in Maintained schools (not Independent schools). There are three Core subjects and seven foundation subjects. See also Core Curriculum, Foundation Subjects.
National Professional Qualifications for Head Teachers
A qualification currently being taken by senior school managers as part of their preparation for possible headship.
Nursery Nurses
Trained people who work with teachers in schools and early years settings and who are trained to NNEB, BTEC or NVQ3 standards as prescribed in Administration procedures D7.
Nursery School
A school which caters for the 2 - 5 years age range of children either full or part-time.
O
Open Enrolment
Admitting children to a school up to the Standard Number, according to admission criteria. See also Greenwich.
Options
Subjects which pupils choose to study. Usually decided when they are aged 13 - 14 for examinations at 16, either GCSE or GNVQ.
Open University (OU)
Provision of Higher Education by study at home via distance learning supplemented by radio and television programmes.
P
Paired Reading
Teaching a child to read with the help of a fluent reader, another pupil or a parent.
Parent Condoned Absence
Pupils’ non-attendance at school with the knowledge and/or encouragement of parents.
Parental Choice
LEAs and Governors are required to admit children to the school of parental preference, unless that would prejudice the provision of efficient education or efficient use of resources or would be incompatible with arrangements at Aided schools. Choice is a misnomer.
Performance and Assessment Report (PANDA)
Schools receive this report every year from Ofsted. It is designed to help in benchmarking by comparing a school’s SATs results, examination results and attendance with those of all schools nationally and with schools similar in size and by level of social deprivation as indicated by the number of pupils taking free school meals.
Performance Management
A national pattern introduced in 2000 focussing on raising standards. The 2 or 3 governors appointed to this task agree objectives for the head teacher and must cover management, pupil progress and personal development.
Teachers agree their 3 targets after focussed professional development with their Line Manager. The School Improvement Plan will include these objectives and targets, ensuring that the school is moving in an agreed direction and providing a focus on Performance Management in school.
Peripatetic Teacher
A teacher who works in a number of schools, for example, a teacher of a musical instrument or one who gives home tuition.
Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLASC)
It is a statutory requirement for all maintained schools to provide an electronic PLASC return. Data collected by PLASC is matched by LEAs and the DfES to Key Stage attainment data and used to produce statistical analyses of performance by pupils to help school improvement strategies. Replaces Form 7.
Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
This aims to increase the level of private sector financial involvement in public services, particularly capital investment. In Dudley PFI has part funded DGfL.
Prospectus
The Governing Body of a school must publish a school prospectus each year for parents and prospective parents. The contents are laid down by regulations and include aims, provisions, rules, staff, governors and many other matters.
PTA
Parent Teacher Association. A school-based association of parents and teachers. Its purpose is to facilitate home/school contacts and to work for the benefit of the school, often by raising funds. The term is sometimes used for other groups such as; Parents’ Association, Parents’ Guild, Home and School Society or Home and School Association.
Pupil/Teacher Ratio
In a given school, the number of pupils divided by the total number of full-time teaching staff (or their full time equivalent), which in DfES statistics includes the Head.
Q
Qualified Teacher
Graduates and others who have completed an approved teacher training course. See also Peripatetic Teacher, Student Teacher, Supply Teacher, Teaching Practice.
Quango
Quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation. A semi-public administrative body appointed by Government e.g. Funding Agency for Schools.
Quorum
The minimum number of members needed present to make decisions in a meeting. See also A Guide to the Law for School Governors.
R
Reading Age
A child’s score on Standardised Reading Tests, worked out on the basis of average scores for each age.
Record of Achievement
Comprehensive profile detailing pupil’s achievements in school.
Registered Inspector
An OFSTED inspector who is approved to lead and to put together an inspection team.
Registered Pupil
Pupil entered on a school’s roll and counted towards its unit total.
Regulations
Instructions issued by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on the basis of powers given in legislation, and having the force of law. See also Statutory Instrument.
Religious Education (RE)
All schools are required to include religious education as an integral part of the National Curriculum. Parents have the right to withdraw their children on the grounds of conscience. Maintained schools must normally adhere to the ‘agreed syllabus’ whereas denominational voluntary aided schools have to follow a syllabus in accordance with the teachings and doctrines of the church by which they were founded. See also Agreed Syllabus, Religious Worship.
Religious Worship
Schools must provide a daily act of corporate worship. It need not be at the beginning of the day and it need not involve all pupils at the same time but must have Christian content. In a denominational voluntary aided school, religious worship must be in accordance with the rites and liturgical norms of the church by which the school is founded.
Reserved Teacher
A teacher appointed to a Voluntary Controlled School to give religious education characteristic of the denomination of the school.
Resolutions
A formal decision taken by the Governing Body and recorded in the minutes.
Revenue Expenditure
Strictly speaking this means spending from income. It is used to denote spending on resources needed to maintain existing provision not new developments which require capital expenditure.
Rising Fives
Children admitted to a school a term earlier than is required.
Rote Learning
Memorising word for word without necessarily fully understanding the meaning e.g. multiplication tables.
S
School Achievement Awards
A DfES promoted scheme by which schools whose pupil performance results have made significant improvements are awarded a sum of money to reward the school staff.
School Attendance Order
A power given to the LEA to issue to parents if a child is not receiving efficient and suitable full-time education. Requires the parent to see the child attends school
School Development Adviser
Appointed to work in the School Effectiveness Division of the Education department to provide support for schools and to provide information and advice for the Education Department about those schools.
School Formula Spending Share (SFSS)
Allocation by LEAs to Individual School Budgets (ISB) through local Fair Funding formula, of funding from the Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS). This replaces Standard Spending Assessment (SSA).
School Organisation Committee
The School Organisation Committee is a body required by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, in order to make local decisions on matters to do with school organisation. The committee is not a council committee but one which represents all partners involved in education e.g. the LEA, Church Diocese, Governors.
School Organisation Plan
The committee will make decisions on the School Organisation Plan on which schools and local communities will also have the opportunity to make comment.
School Records
Records which the school keep on individual pupils. Must be open to inspection and correction if requested by parents, but are not open to inspection by the general public. May be used by schools as a basis for reporting on pupils to other educational establishments and for preparing references for employers.
School Reports
Regular reports prepared by teachers on pupils’ attainments, attendance, behaviour etc., and sent to parents. May contain a space for parent’s response.
School Rules
The rules which a school requires pupils to obey for safety, good discipline etc. These should be approved by the Governors.
Schools Causing Concern
Schools causing concern are deemed to be those schools within an LEA who are in the OFSTED categories of special measures, serious weaknesses or underachieving schools. In addition, schools where there are specific problems, sometimes of a temporary nature, which require LEA support in order for them to make the necessary improvements will fall into this category. See LEA policy on Support for School Improvement for more information.
Schools Forum
A statutory group comprising representatives of head teachers and governing bodies, teacher unions, the Learning Skills Council, the Church of England and Roman Catholic dioceses and the Local Authority. The forum is the primary consultative body for matters relating to budgets and finance, including variations in the funding formula or proposed changes to the LMS scheme.
Scrutiny Committee
Following a modernisation of the way in which the Council works through its elected members, the number of council meetings has been reduced and the old committee pattern has been removed. In its place are Scrutiny Committees whose role is to examine the work of specific parts of Dudley’s service. Scrutiny Committee D has the brief for Education and Lifelong Learning.
Secondment
A teacher’s temporary attachment to another school or special course in another institution.
Self Review
OFSTED is now a familiar part of the pattern of life in schools, but this normally comes around every 4 years. In the meantime, schools and Governing Bodies need to review how they are doing. Dudley has developed Self Review materials which can be used by schools and Governing Bodies as a means of reviewing progress.
Serious Weaknesses
Serious Weakness is an OFSTED category for a school with an adequate education but which has specific weaknesses in one or more specific categories. The school may be monitored by inspectors sampling progress but requires a full OFSTED inspection to remove the category.
Session
Half a school day, morning or afternoon, when attendance is recorded.
Setting
Placing children in different groups for a particular subject according to their ability in that school only.
Sex Education
In every primary school Governors must decide whether this is to be given and if so must approve the outline syllabus. It is required in all Secondary schools. Sex education must have due regard to ‘moral considerations and the value of family life’.
Sibling
A brother or sister.
Social Education
Includes personal relationships, communication, health education and understanding of the community and the environment.
Special Education
For children with sensory, physical, mental, medical or behavioural and emotional difficulties, or a combination of these, and who have difficulty in learning with techniques employed in an ordinary school.
See also Special Educational Needs.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Roughly 2% of children have sensory, physical, mental, medical or behavioural and emotional difficulties, or a combination of these, requiring a Statement of Special Educational Need. A further 18% may have a learning difficulty not requiring a Statement but requiring help from teachers.
Special Measures
An OFSTED verdict on a school where weaknesses in crucial areas outweigh the strengths.
Special School
A school specialising in catering for the needs and education of a specific disability or combination of disabilities. See also Special Educational Needs.
Specialist Schools
Secondary schools that develop an emphasis on a particular area of the curriculum and receives additional funding from the DfES.
Specific Leaning Difficulty
Problem with one area of the Curriculum, usually reading, writing and / or Numeracy. Preferred term to dyslexia for specific reading difficulty. See also Special Educational Needs.
Staff Governor
Head teachers, teachers and non-teaching staff are now included in the same category. One place must be reserved for the head teacher and one for a teacher, unless no teacher stands for election. With 3 or more staff governor places one must be reserved for support staff, unless no support staff stand for election.
Stages of Education
Foundation - for children in the age range 3 - 5 years. Primary Education - Nursery, Infant, First and Junior School - for children up to 12.
Secondary Education - Secondary High and Middle Schools when the latter cater for age range 9 - 13. Further Education - beyond school leaving in Colleges of FE, Technical Colleges etc. Higher Education - Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Higher Education. Adult Education - courses for adults, day or evening, including those not leading to examinations.
Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs)
National tests at 7, 11 and 14 to ascertain the level of attainment reached by pupils at Key Stages of the National Curriculum.
Standards Fund
This development money is funded partly by the LEA and partly by Central Government. It is now within the budget of each school, can be vired, but needs in general to be spent within the designated area of activity. The
Education department is required to monitor the use of this money.
Standard Number
Every school has a ‘standard number’ and the authority responsible for admissions to the school must not restrict its intake of pupils in the relevant age group below that number. See also Parental Choice.
Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE)
In every LEA to advise on religious worship and religious education to an agreed syllabus. It is made up of representatives of the LEA, the Teachers’ Associations, Christian and other religious groups.
Statement of Special Educational Needs
Written description of a child’s educational needs required to be made by an LEA, incorporating advice from teachers, educational psychologists, doctors, parents, professionals and others.
Statutory Instrument
Order by the Secretary of State, approved by Parliament, which has the force of the law. See also Regulations.
Student Teacher
A person being trained as a teacher.
Supply Teacher
Temporary substitute teacher to cover absentee.
Syllabus
Course of study (context and activities) in a given subject , often connected with an examination.
T
Teaching Practice
Time spent by a Student Teacher in a school gaining practical teaching experience.
Three Rs
Reading, writing and arithmetic (formerly reckoning).
Threshold
All teachers on point 6 of the pay scale are entitled to complete an application to cross the ‘threshold’ and access a higher pay scale. The head teacher assesses applications in the first instance. An external assessor then moderates the head teacher’s judgements.
Successful applicants move to point 1 on the Upper Pay Spine. Teachers must have been paid on point 6 for one year before moving to the Upper Pay Spine. With effect from 01.09.02 following assessment within school by the head teacher and Governing Body teachers can move to point 2 on the Upper Pay Spine.
Travellers
The LEA has to ensure that proper education is provided for all children of school age in the area. This includes the provision of schooling for the children of: migrants from the EEC and other countries; mobile workers whose jobs require them to travel; travelling people. The range of services provided must be the same as for children of permanent residents.
U
Under Achievement
A pupil who performs below the level identified as expected by tests administered by educational psychologists.
Uniform
Standard form of school dress - this may be a requirement included in a school’s rules. This cannot be legally enforced.
V
Virements
The transfer of a proportion of the money allocated from one heading to another heading in the financial budget.
Voluntary Aided School
This term refers to Voluntary, usually denominational schools (e.g. Church of England or Roman Catholic), where there is an agreed sharing of responsibility between the LEA and the Voluntary Body.
Voluntary School
There are three main kinds - Controlled, Aided and Special Agreement. They were originally founded by voluntary bodies, usually churches but sometimes Trusts. They are now largely financed by LEAs though still retaining Foundation Governors, and, in the case of voluntary aided schools, being responsible for contributing to the costs of capital expenditure.
W
Withdrawal class
Taking children out of the ordinary class to meet their special needs in various Curriculum subjects. Extra help is usually given in small groups. See also Special Educational Needs.
Works Experience
Opportunity provided by arrangement with local firms for pupils to spend some time in an adult place of work.
Y
Year Group
Name given to describe a pupil’s stage of schooling from Year 1 (6 years old) to Year 13 (18 years old). The first year of primary education is known as Reception Class.
