Copy of `Wolverhampton City Council - A glossary of terms for governors`

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Wolverhampton City Council - A glossary of terms for governors Category: Education Date & country: 15/01/2008, UK Words: 162

Parent Councils
Trust schools are legally obliged to set up a Parent Council. Others may do so if they wish.

PAT
The Professional Association of Teachers. Website

Peripatetic Teacher
A teacher who works in a number of schools, to give specialist instruction e.g. in music.

PFI
Private Finance Initiative.

PGCE
Post-Graduate Certificate of Education - a teaching qualification which includes a period of practical teaching experience.

PGR
Parent Governor Representative.

PI
Performance Indicators.

PLASC
A DfES form submitted by every school each January to record the number of teachers employed, the number of children in each age group, the organisation of classes etc. Website

PPA
Planning, Preparation and Assessment time.

PRP
Performance Related Pay.

PRU
Pupil Referral Unit - Unit catering for pupils with a range of difficulties which mainstream schools would have problems dealing with. Link

PSB
Potential School Budget.

PTA
Parent Teachers Association.

PTR
Pupil/Teacher Ratio. This is calculated by dividing the number of pupils in a school by the number of full-time equivalent teachers.

Pupil Profile
Broad evaluation of a pupil`s personality, interests and capabilities. This forms part of his/her Record of Achievement.

QCA
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority - the agency responsible for advising on the school curriculum. Website

QID
Quality & Improvement Diretorate.

QTS
Qualified Teacher Status.

Quorum
The minimum number of members needed in order for the meeting to take place.

RAISEonline
Reporting and Analysis for Improement through School Self-Evaluation - an online analysis of a schools' results.

Reading age
A measurement of a pupil`s reading ability based on standard national tests defining normal attainment at that age.

Resolution
A formal decision which has been proposed, seconded and agreed not necessarily by a vote - at a meeting.

Rising fives
Children who start school in the term before their fifth birthday.

ROSE
Record of School Effectiveness - a local document which is designed to help schools judge their effectiveness across a range of indicators.

SACRE
Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education - Local statutory body which advises on religious education and collective worship.

SATs
Standard Assessment Tasks - (now National Curriculum tests).

School Profile
A document giving key information about the school including the school`s achievements and its plans for the future.

SDP-SIP
School Development/Improvement Plan - the school`s plan for improvement.

Secondment
The release of staff on a temporary basis to another establishment.

SEF
Self Evaluation Form - completed by each school and used as main document by Inspectors during Ofsted inspections.

SEN
Special Educational Needs - learning difficulties for which special educational provision has to be made. Many include children with physical disabilities or emotional and behavioural disorders and gifted children. Governors have a duty to help identify and provide for such pupils. Link

SENCO
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator - the member of school staff with responsibility for co-ordinating special needs.

Setting
A system of organising pupils into ability groups for particular subjects.

SHA
Secondary Heads` Association. Website

Sibling
A brother or sister.

SIC
Statement of Internal Control.

SIP
School Improvement Partner.

SIPB
School Improvement Partnership Board.

SLA
Service Level Agreement - A contract between a Ggoverning body and the LA specifying work to be undertaken in a given area, with cost details.

SLD
Severe Learning Difficulties (Special Needs).

SMART
Targets which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time related.

SMT
Senior Management Team.

Special Needs Resource Base
A unit attached to a mainstream school to cater for children with specific special needs.

Special School
A school for children whose special educational needs cannot be met within a mainstream school.

Specialist School
A secondary school which offers specialist curriculum provision in addition to the National Curriculum.

SSA
Standard Spending Assessment.

SSFA
School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Website

Standards Fund
The current method by which schools and LAs receive money from the government for training staff and governors.

Statementing
The procedure by which a child is formally assessed under the 1993 Education Act as having significant special educational needs. Website

STRB
School Teacher`s Review Body. Makes recommendations to the Secretary of State on teachers` pay. Website

Supply Teacher
Temporary Substitute teacher for those away through illness etc.

Support Staff
Members of the school staff employed to provide services in a school but not to teach, such as classroom assistants, cleaners and school secretaries.

TA
Teaching Assistant.

TDA
Training and Development Agency - a government organisation which sets standards for a variety of roles in the teaching profession. Website

TLG
Training Link Governor - a role allocated to a Governor on the Governing Body; he/she oversees the development of Governors on the Governing Body.

TLR
Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments.

Trust Schools
A state-funded foundation school supported by a charitable trust. It manages its own assets, employs its own staff and sets its own admission arrangements.

VA
Voluntary Aided.

VC
Voluntary Controlled.

Vertical Grouping
Classes formed (in primary schools) with children of different age groups.

Virement
The agreed transfer of money from the budget heading to which it has been allocated to another budget heading.

Workforce Reform
A Government initiative to raise standards and tackle the workload of teaching staff. Website