What does it all mean?

The following abbreviations and acronyms may be used in the Schools / Governors community. This list will help you to find out what common ones mean:

A

AAC
Alternative and Augmentative Communication
ACAS
Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service
ACE
Advisory Centre for Education
AD *
Assistant Director (now entitled Service Director)
AD
Anno Domini (after the year of Our Lord))
AEB
Associated Examining Board
AF
Admissions Forum
AGMA
Association of Greater Manchester Authorities
ALBSU
Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit
AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
ALS
Additional Literacy Support
AM
Ante Meridian (before noon)
AMA *
Association of Metropolitan Authorities
AOB
Any Other Business
AOC
Association of Colleges
APA
Additional Pupil Allowance
APT & C
Administrative, Professional, Technical & Clerical (National Service Conditions)
ASB *
Aggregated Schools Budget (distributed by Formula)
ASBO
Anti-Social Behaviour Order
AST
Advanced Skills Teacher
ATs
Attainment Targets (National Curriculum)
ATL
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
AUP
Acceptable User Policy

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B

 
BAECE
The British Association for Early Childhood Education
BC
Before Christ
BECTA
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency
 BfL
Behaviour for Learning
BIM
British Institute of Management
BIP
Behaviour Improvement Programme
BME
Black or Minority Ethnic
BSA
Basic Skills Agency
BSF
Building Schools for the Future
BTEC
Business & Technology Education Council

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C

CAF
Common Assessment Framework
CAMHS
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services
CASE
Campaign for the State Education
CASHH
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
CBI
Confederation of British Industry
CCT
Compulsory Competitive Tendering
C of E/CE
Church of England
CEHR
Commission for Equality & Human Rights
CEO*
Chief Education Officer
CFE
College of Further Education
CFF
Common Funding Formula
CFR
Consistent Financial Reporting
CIPD
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
CIPFA
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
CITB
Construction Industry Training Board
CLA
Copyright Licensing Agency
CLAIT
Computer Literacy and Information Technology
COGS*
Co-ordinators of Governor Support in England
CPA
Corporate Performance Assessment
CPD
Continuing Professional Development
CPS
Common Pay Scale
CRB
Criminal Records Bureau
CT
Children’s Trust
CVA
Contextual Value Added
CYPP
Children and Young People’s Plan

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D

DAT
Drug Action Team
DCMS
Department for Culture, Media & Sport
DDA
Disability Discrimination Act
DE *
Department of Employment
DEFRA
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
DES *
Department of Education & Science (was DfES now DCSF)
DfE *
Department for Education
DfES *
Department for Education & Skills
DFT
Department for Transport
DHSS
Department of Health and Social Security
DOE
Department of the Environment
DPA
Diploma in Public Administration
DPM
Diploma in Personnel Management
DSG
Dedicated Schools Grant
DSO
Direct Service Organisation
DSS *
Department of Social Services
DTI *
Department of Trade and Industry

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E

EAL
English as an Additional Language
EBP
Education Business Partnership
ECAR
Every Child a Reader
ECAT
Every Child a Talker
ECAW
Every Child a Writer
ECM
Every Child Matters
EiC *
Excellence in Cities
ELG
Early Learning Goals
ELS
Early Literacy Support
EMAG
Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant
EMIE
Educational Management Information Exchange
EP
Educational Psychologist
EPS
Educational Psychology Service
ERA *
Education Reform Act
ESG *
Education Support Grant
ESOL
English for Speakers of other Languages

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F

FE
Further Education
FHE
Further and Higher Education
FHSA
Family Health Service Authority
FMSiS
Financial Management Standards in Schools
FOI
Freedom of Information
FSA
Foundation for Sport and the Arts
FTE
Full-Time Equivalent

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G

GB
Governing Body
GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
GMS *
Grant Maintained School
GNVQ
General National Vocational Qualifications
GSB *
General Schools Budget (all spending on schools)
GTC
General Teaching Council
GTP
Graduate Teacher Programme

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H

HE
Higher Education
HEA
Health Education Authority
HFA
High Functioning Autism
HLTA
Higher Level Teaching Assistant
HMCI
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector/Inspectorate
HMSO
Her Majesty’s Stationery Office
HND/HNC
Higher National Diploma/Certificate
HR
Human Resources
H & S
Health & Safety
HSC
Health and Safety Commission
HSE
Health and Safety Executive
HT
Head Teacher

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I

IAG
Instruments and Articles of Government
IAG
Information, Advice and Guidance
ICG
Institute of Careers Guidance
ICT
Information and Communications Technology
IiP
Investors in People
INSET
In-Service Education of Teachers
ISCG
Institute of School and College Governors
IT
Information Technology
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J

JMB *
Joint Matriculation Board

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K

KS
Key Stage

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L

L1 to L43
Leadership Group spine (School Teachers’ Pay & Conditions)
LA
Local Authority
LAC
Looked After Children
LGA
Local Government Association
LMS
Local Management of Schools
LMSS
Local Management of Special Schools
LPSH
Leadership Programme for Serving Headteachers
LSA
Learning Support Assistant
LSB
Local Schools Budget
LSC
Learning & Skills Council
LSCB
Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards
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M

MFG
Minimum Funding Guarantee
MFL
Modern Foreign Language
MMU
Manchester Metropolitan University
MPG
Main Professional Grade (teachers’ salary range)

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N

NAACE
National Association of Advisers for Computers in Education
NACE
National Association for Able Children in Education
NACGT
National Association of Careers and Guidance Teachers
NAGM
National Association of Governors and Managers
NAHT
National Association of Headteachers
NAIA
National Association of Inspectors and Advisers
NAIEAC
National Association of Inspectors, Education Advisers and  Consultants
NASUWT
National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers
NASMO
National Association of School Meals Organisers
NASWE
National Association of Social Workers in Education
NATFHE
National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Educati
NBA
National Bursars Association
NCB
National Children’s Bureau
NCC *
National Curriculum Council
NCER
National Consortium for Examination Results
NCPTA
National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations
NCSL
National College of School Leadership
NCSS
National Council for School Sport
NCVQ
National Council for Vocational Qualifications
NEA
Northern Examining Association
NEET
Not in education, employment or training
NFER
National Foundation for Educational Research
NFF
National Funding Formula
NGfL
National Grid for Learning
NI
National Insurance
NIACE
National Organisation for Adult Learning
NICE
National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence
NJC
National Joint Council (for Local Authorities’ Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services – Conditions of Service)
NLS
National Literacy Strategy
NNEB
National Nursery Examining Board
NNS
National Numeracy Strategy
NOF
New Opportunities Funding
NOR
Number on Roll
NPQH
National Professional Qualification for Headship
NPQICL
National Professional Qualification for Integrated Centre Leaders
NQT
Newly Qualified Teacher
NROA*
National Records of Achievement
NUS
National Union of Students
NUT
National Union of Teachers
NVQ
National Vocational Qualification
NWRSEO
North West Region Society of Education Officers
NYA
National Youth Agency

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O

ODPM
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (formally DCLG)
OFSTED
Office for Standards in Education
OND/ONC *
Ordinary National Diploma/Certificate
OU
Open University

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P

PA
Parents Association
PAN
Published Admission Number
PANDA
Performance and Assessment Data
PAYP
Positive Activities for Young People
PBSS
Primary Behaviour Support Service
PCT
Primary Care Trust
PE
Physical Education
PEAL
Parents, Early Years and Learning
PEP
Personal Education Plan
PFI
Private Finance Initiative
PGCE
Post-Graduate Certificate in Education
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
PICSI
Pre-inspection Context and School Indicators
PIPS
Performance Indicators in Primary Schools
PLASC
Pupil Level Annual Schools Census
PM
Post Meridian (after noon)
PMLD
Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties
PPA
Planning, preparation and assessment time
PPP
Performance Pay Progression
PROFS
Professional Office Systems
PRS
Performing Rights Society
PRU
Pupil Referral Unit
PSA
Parent Support Adviser
PSB *
Potential School Budget
PSE
Personal and Social Education
PSHE
Personal, Social & Health Education
PSP
Pastoral Support Programme
PTA
Parent Teacher Association
PTE
Part-Time Equivalent
PTR
Pupil Teacher Ratio
PUPPIE
Primary Unique Pupil Performance in Education
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Q

QCA
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
QTS
Qualified Teacher Status

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R

RAISE
Reporting and Analysis for Improvement through School Self-Evaluation
RAP
Raising Attainment Plan
RC
Roman Catholic
RE
Religious Education
RgI
Registered Inspector
RI
Religious Instruction
RIDDOR
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
ROA
Record of Achievement
RSA
Royal Society of Arts
RSG
Revenue Support Grant
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S

SACRE
Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education
SALT
Speech & Language Therapy
SAO
School Attendance Order
SATs
Standard Assessment Tasks
SCAA *
School Curriculum and Assessment Authority
SCIP
School Curriculum Industry Project
SCITT
School Centred Initial Teacher Training
SDP
School Development Plan
SEAL
Social & Emotional Aspects of Learning
SEBS
Social, Emotional & Behavioural Skills
SEF
School Evaluation Form
SEN
Special Educational Needs
SENCO
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
SENDA
Special Educational Needs & Disability Act 2001
SENIOS
Special Educational Needs in Ordinary School
SES
Single Equality Scheme
SF
Standards Fund
SFSS
Schools Formula Spending Share
SHA
Secondary Heads Association
SI
Statutory Instrument
SIMS
School Information Management Systems
SIMT
School Incident Management Team
SIP
School Improvement Plan
SIP
School Improvement Partner
SLA
Service Level Agreement
SLCN
Speech, Language and Communication Needs
SLD
Severe Learning Difficulties
SLICT
Strategic Leadership and ICT
SLT
Speech & Language Therapy
SMART
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-related
SMT
Senior Management Team
SN
Standard Number
SNUG
Special Needs User Group
SOA
Super Output Areas (re: Census/Plasc)
SOC
Standard Occupational Classification
SORT
School Organisation Review Tool
SPLD
Specific Learning Difficulties
SRB
Single Regeneration Budget
SSA
Standard Spending Assessment
SSG
Schools Standards Grant
SSR
Staff-Student Ratio
STA
Specialist Teacher Assistant
STPRB
School Teachers Pay Review Body

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T

TA
Teaching Assistant
TaMHS
Targeted Mental Health in Schools Project
TDA
Training & Development Agency
TEC*
Training and Enterprise Council
TEFL
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TEN
The Education Network
TES
Times Educational Supplement
TESOL
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
THRASS
Teaching of Handwriting Reading & Spelling Skills
TLR
Teaching and Learning Responsibility Payment
TP
Teaching Practice
TTA
Teacher Training Agency
TUPE
Transfer of Undertaking, Protection of Employment

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U

UCAS
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
UMIST
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
UNISON
Formerly NALGO and NUPE (Combined union of public service Employees)
UPN
Unique Pupil Number
UPS
Upper Pay Scale
URN
Unique Reference Number
UKCOSA
United Kingdom Council for Overseas Student Affairs

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V

VA
Voluntary Aided (School)
VC
Voluntary Controlled (School)
VLE
Virtual Learning Environment
VRQ
Verbal Reasoning Quotient

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W

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Y

YIP
Youth Inclusion Project
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