Every UK schools term, demystified.
A single A-Z reference for the jargon you’ll meet during admissions, league tables and Ofsted reports.
A
Academy
A state-funded school run independently of the local authority, often as part of a Multi-Academy Trust.
Read full definition
Admissions Authority
The body responsible for setting and applying a school admissions policy (the local authority for community schools, the school itself for academies and faith schools).
Read full definition
Appeals
The legal process through which parents can challenge a refused school place at an independent appeals panel.
Read full definition
Attainment 8
Average grade across 8 GCSE subjects including English and Maths, scored out of 90.
Read full definition
B
C
Catchment Area
The geographical area a school typically draws its pupils from, often defined by recent furthest-distance offers.
Read full definition
Common Entrance
The standardised exam used by many independent senior schools at 11+ and 13+ entry.
Read full definition
Comprehensive School
A non-selective state secondary school that admits pupils across the full range of ability.
Read full definition
D
Disadvantaged Pupil
A DfE classification covering pupils eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years and those looked after by the local authority.
Read full definition
Distance Criterion
A tie-break rule that allocates remaining places by straight-line distance from home to school.
Read full definition
E
EBacc
English Baccalaureate: a set of GCSE subjects covering English, Maths, Sciences, a humanity and a language.
Read full definition
EHCP
Education, Health and Care Plan: a legal document setting out support for pupils with significant special educational needs.
Read full definition
EYFS
Early Years Foundation Stage: the curriculum framework covering education from birth to the end of Reception.
Read full definition
F
Faith School
A school with a religious character that may give priority to applicants of that faith in its oversubscription criteria.
Read full definition
Feeder School
A primary school whose pupils have priority for entry to a particular secondary school.
Read full definition
Free School
A type of state-funded academy set up by parent, teacher or community groups, free of local authority control.
Read full definition
G
I
K
L
M
O
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills: the body that inspects and rates schools.
Read full definition
Open Day
A scheduled visit when prospective parents can tour a school and meet staff before applying.
Read full definition
Oversubscription Criteria
The ranked rules a school uses to allocate places when there are more applicants than spaces.
Read full definition
P
Pastoral Care
The non-academic support a school provides for pupils' wellbeing, behaviour and personal development.
Read full definition
Persistent Absence
A pupil missing 10% or more of possible school sessions in an academic year.
Read full definition
Progress 8
A measure of how much progress pupils make from the end of primary to the end of GCSE, expressed as a score around zero.
Read full definition
Pupil Premium
Additional funding paid to schools to support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Read full definition