Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
SATs - SATs, Standard Assessment Tasks, are national exams students take at the end of key stage 1*. In 2010, some students completed them at the end of key stage *, but they were boycotted by other schools.
School Achievement and Assessment Tables - (now known as School and College Performance Tables). These tables measure the performance of schools' pupils in national tests, at age 11, 16 and 18.
School and College Performance Tables - (previously known as School Achievement and Assessment Tables*). These tables measure the performance of schools' pupils in national tests, at age 11, 16 and 18.
SEN - All schools have an SEN, Special Educational Needs, department which is dedicated to students with particular behavioural and learning needs, for
example, problems with reading.
Senior management - Also sometimes known as ‘Senior Leadership Team' (SLT), or ‘Senior Team’.
The senior Management are the staff who lead a school.The team usually consists of a head teacher,
Deputy head teachers, and assistant head teachers. The number of assistants and deputies depends on the size of the school.
Setting - Setting is a way of organising students into groups according to ability.Setting is particular to a subject area, so a student could be in the top set for Maths and the third set for English.
SNAs - Also known as ‘Teaching Assistants (TAs)’, ‘Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs)’, ‘Classroom Assistants’,‘Support staff’. Assistants support teachers in and out of the lesson working with particular students, for example, those with special educational needs*.
Special Educational Needs - All schools have an SEN, Special Educational Needs, department which is dedicated to students with particular behavioural and learning needs, for example, problems with reading.
Special Measures - Schools are put into Special Measures by Ofsted* if they are deemed to be failing to provide students with a satisfactory standard of education.
Special Needs Assistants - Also known as ‘Teaching Assistants (TAs)’, ‘Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs)’, ‘Classroom Assistants’,‘Support staff’. Assistants support teachers in and out of the lesson working with particular students, for example, those with special educational needs*.
Special schools - Special schools educate students with a particular learning need, for example, a special school for students with severe physical disabilities.
Specialist schools - Specialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be
designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area.
These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges.
State schools - State schools are non-fee paying schools provided by the state.
Statement of special educational needs - If a student has significant special educational needs* they may be given a statement which defines what support they are legally entitled to.
Streaming - Also known as ‘banding’.
Banding is a way of organising students into ability groups.Banding means that students are put into the same ability groups for most or all subjects.
So if a student is in the top band for Maths, they will also be in the top band for other subjects, like English and Science.
Banding is also a method some local authorities
use to ensure that students from different ability
groups are represented in all their comprehensive
schools.
Supply teacher - Also known as ‘cover teacher’.
A supply teacher is a teacher not employed by the school usually brought in from an agency to cover for an absent teacher.
Suspensions - The most serious sanctions a school can use are fixed term or permanent exclusions. ‘Fixed term’ exclusions are sometimes called suspensions. Fixed term exclusions are for a set number of days.
Add a comment