Teaching job jargon buster
AST (advanced skills teacher)
Advanced skills teachers must pass a national assessment qualifying them to help develop and support teachers working in their local schools.
ATL (Association of Teachers and Lecturers)
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers is a trade union and professional association for teachers, lecturers and support workers.
Common entrance
Exam set by the Independent Schools Examination Board and marked by individual schools that assesses students’ ability to join an independent senior school. Can be sat at age 11, 12 or 13.
Contact time
The time teachers spend with students.
CPD (continuing professional development)
Ongoing training provision.
DCELLS
Welsh Assembly's Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learnings and Skills. Responsible for setting the curriculum in Wales.
DfE
The Department for Education is the government department that oversees children's services and education in England. It sets the curriculum and, via Ofsted, is responsible for inspections.
DENI (Department of Education in Northern Ireland)
Government department responsible for education in Northern Ireland.
DRB (designated recommending body)
Groups that administer many GTP and RTP places.
EAL/EFL/ESL
English as an additional/foreign/secondary language.
EBD
Emotional and behavioural difficulties.
EBITT
Employment-based initial teacher training provider
Foundation stage
For children from age three to the end of reception year.
GTC
General Teaching Council for England. Professional body for school teachers in England.
GTCS
General Teaching Council for Scotland.
GTCW
General Teaching Council for Wales.
GTP (graduate teacher programme)
Employment-based training programme for applicants with a degree.
GTTR (graduate teacher training registry)
The graduate teacher training registry is the central clearing house for teacher training applications.
HLTA
Higher level teaching assistant.
HMI
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education. Responsible for inspecting education provision in Scotland.
HOD
Head of department.
HOY
Head of year.
IAPS
Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools.
Induction
Compulsory year-long on-the-job training period for all NQTs.
ISC
ITT (initial teacher training)
Involves completion of a recognised teaching qualification.
LA/LEA
Local (Education) Authority: Government departments that own school property, monitor their work and provide services.
LSA (learning support assistant)
Person who provides classroom-based support.
NAPE
National Association for Primary Education.
NASEN
National Association for Special Educational Needs.
NASUWT
The National Association of Schoolmasters / Union of Women Teachers is a trade union for teachers.
National curriculum
The national curriculum for England sets the framework for what subjects schools have to teach and what pupils should learn within those subjects at different stages.
NQT (newly qualified teacher)
Teacher who has completed ITT and who still needs to complete induction.
NUT (National Union of Teachers)
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union and professional association for teachers.
Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education)
Ofsted is the organisation responsible for inspecting and regulating education in schools in England. It also inspects providers of care for children and young people and of learning and skills for people of all ages.
OTT
Overseas-trained teacher.
PGCE (postgraduate certificate of education)
University-based teacher training course that includes 18–24 weeks in a school.
PNS (primary national strategy)
Government strategy to improve primary schools.
PPA (planning, preparation and assessment)
Time allocated on the timetable for teachers to devote to planning, preparation and assessment.
PRU (pupil referral unit)
LA-maintained unit for students who have been excluded from other schools.
PTR
Pupil–teacher ratio.
QTS (qualified teacher status)
The award made to teachers who have demonstrated that they have met the required professional standards.
RSM (recruitment strategy manager)
Many LAs employ RSMs who receive TDA funding to establish strategic retention programmes for local schools. RSM coverage is not nationwide and is targeted in areas of greatest need.
RTP (registered teacher programme)
Two-year on-the-job training programme for those who want to teach and who have already spent at least two years in higher education.
SCITT (school-centred initial teacher training)
School-based on-the-job teacher training programme for graduates with some teaching experience. Applicants are employed by a consortium of schools/education providers.
SEN (special educational needs)
Learning difficulties for which a pupil needs special educational help.
SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator)
Teacher responsible for co-ordinating provision for pupils with special educational needs within a school.
SMT (senior management team)
Includes the head teacher, deputy head and other senior teachers.
TA
Teaching assistant
TDA (Training and Development Agency for Schools)
The Training and Development Agency for Schools is the government agency that promotes careers and training opportunities in the teaching profession.
TEFL/TESL
Teaching English as a foreign/secondary language
Voice
Voice is the union for education workers, including teachers, school support staff and nursery nurses. It was formerly known as the Professional Association of Teachers.
