Glossary

To be helpful, we’ve defined some of the most often used terms and phrases when speaking about education. These terms apply to the UK unless otherwise stated.

Academies

Schools that receive full funding from the government and are run by not-for-profit academy trusts. Academies do not need to follow the national curriculum.

Appeal hearing

The process of appealing for a place to the school admission appeal panels when students do not get an offer from their chosen school.

Bursary

A form of funding for students who require financial support for their child to attend private schools. (This is different to Scholarships.)

Catchment area

An area around a single school, used to determine whether an applicant has a priority for acceptance depending on the student’s address.

CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring)

A research group based in University of Durham who provide 11+ entrance assessments to many grammar schools and local authorities. The other major provider of 11+ exams is GL Assessment.

Common Application Form

An obligatory form for all parents in England and Wales to fill in and submit to the local authority with their preferences of secondary schools.

Curiosity

An interest in a new object or fact, and a strong feeling or desire to know about it. It is the crucial beginning point for learning something new.

Curriculum Levels

The name given to the division of the national curriculum by year group in Scotland.

Early Learning Goals (ELGs)

A set of goals to prepare pre-school aged children for their Primary school education. The ELGs are based on each nation’s curriculums:

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (England)
Curriculum at Foundation Stage (Northern Ireland)
The Early Years Framework (Scotland)
Foundation Phase Framework (Wales)

Early Level (a.k.a. Primary 1)

The first year of Primary school education in Scotland, catering for children at the age of 4–5.

11+ (Eleven Plus)

An entrance examination students sit at the age of 11 for entering selective Secondary schools. This typically consists of assessments in Maths, English, Verbal reasoning (problem-solving with words and passages) and Non-verbal reasoning (problem-solving using images and diagrams) followed by possible interviews.

GL Assessment (Granada Learning Assessment)

One of the major providers of 11+ exams used in many grammar schools, along with CEM. Previously known as NFER (National Foundation for Educational Research).

Grammar schools

Selective, state secondary schools that administer their own entry process. Prospective students typically sit an examination at the age of 11 (see 11+).

Foundation Stage

The first two years of Primary school education in Northern Ireland, catering for children at the age of 4–6.

Infant school

An alternative name for independent schools catering for students between the ages of 3–8. Also commonly known as Pre-prep schools.

ISEB (The Independent Schools Examinations Board)

The author of Common Entrance examinations taken by students applying for independent schools.

Junior school

An alternative name for independent schools catering for students between the ages of 8–11/13. Also commonly known as Prep schools.

Key Stages

The name given to the division of the national curriculum by year group in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Learnest’s L1 materials correspond to the curriculums of:

Years 1–2 (England and Wales) (Key Stage 1)
Years 2–3 (Northern Ireland) (Late Foundation–Early Key Stage 1)
Primary 2–3 (Scotland) (Early Level–Early First Level)

Learnest’s L2 materials correspond to the curriculums of:

Years 3–4 (England and Wales) (Key Stage 2)
Years 4–5 (Northern Ireland) (Late Key Stage 1–Early Key Stage 2)
Primary 4–5 (Scotland) (Late First Level–Early Second Level)

Learnest’s L3 materials correspond to the curriculums of:

Years 5–6 (England and Wales) (Key Stage 2)
Years 6–7 (Northern Ireland) (Late Key Stage 2)
Primary 6–7 (Scotland) (Late Second Level)

L+

Learnest’s L+ materials cover topics beyond the national curriculums of primary schools.

Levels of Progression (LoP)

The assessments in Northern Ireland taken by students at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. All students at state-funded schools sit LoP, but they are not compulsory for independent schools.

National Offer Day (a.k.a. Offer Day)

The day when all secondary schools in each country release their decisions on each application.

Non-selective schools (a.k.a. Comprehensive schools)

Schools that do not set a form of selection criteria for entrance. This usually refers to state schools.

Partially selective schools (a.k.a. Bilateral schools)

Schools that adopt a mixture of selective and comprehensive administration processes, which allocate a proportion of places to some students with entrance examinations and others through non-selective criteria. There are currently 38 partially selective schools in England.

Placing Requests

A request made by parents in Scotland to place their child in a different school to the one offered by the local authority.

Post-primary schools

The second-level education following Primary school education, aimed for students aged between 12 and 18 in Northern Ireland.

Pre-school

A school catering for children below the compulsory school age. Typically focusses on early academic education to prepare for Primary schools.

Pre-prep schools (a.k.a. Pre-preparatory schools)

Private schools which prepare children aged 3 to 8 for their prep school entrance. Most pre-prep schools are linked with prep schools with a guaranteed transition.

Prep schools (a.k.a. Preparatory schools)

Private schools which prepare students for their entrance examinations to prospective grammar and independent secondary schools. Most prep schools educate students from the age of 8 up to 11 or 13.

Pre-Schoolers

Learnest’s Pre-Schoolers materials correspond to the pre-school Early Learning Goals.

Nursery–Reception (England and Wales)
Nursery–Year 1 (Northern Ireland)
Nursery–Primary 1 (Scotland)

Primary school

The first-level education beginning at the compulsory school age, aimed for students aged between 4/5 and 12 years.

Private schools (a.k.a. Independent schools)

Schools that are funded by individuals or foundations independent of the government. They typically charge fees for pupils’ attendance and do not need to follow the national curriculum.

Reception

The first year of Primary school education in England and Wales, usually catering for children at the age of 4–5.

Scholarship

A financial reward to students who present high academic performances, or are highly skilled in extra-curricular fields such as sport, music, art or drama.

Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA)

The assessments in Scotland taken by students at the end of Early Level, 1st Level and 2nd Level. All students at state-funded schools sit SNSA, but they are not compulsory for independent schools.

Secondary school

The second-level education following Primary school education, aimed for students aged between 12 and 18 in England, Scotland and Wales.

Selective schools

Schools that select students based on their academic performances or other respective criteria. This usually refers to grammar and private schools that set entrance examinations.

Senior school

An alternative name for independent schools catering for students between the ages of 11/13–18. Also commonly known as independent Secondary schools.

7+ (Seven Plus)

An entrance examination students sit at the age of 7 for entering Prep schools. The assessments usually include English and Maths, possibly combined with reasoning tests, creative tasks and/or interviews.

Standard Assessment Tests (SATs)

The assessments in England and Wales taken by students at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. All students at state-funded schools sit SATs, but they are not compulsory for independent schools.

State schools

Government-funded schools that provide education to students free of charge. All state schools are required to follow the national curriculum.

13+ (Thirteen Plus)

An entrance examination students sit a the age of 13 for entering selective Secondary schools in Year 9. The assessments usually consist of English, Maths and Science, along with humanities subjects and/or reasoning tests.

3/4+ (Three/Four Plus)

An entrance examination students sit at the age of 3 or 4 for entering selective Pre-prep schools. The assessments may be based on simple arithmetics and/or language skills, or a play-based monitoring.

Transfer Form

The form for parents in Northern Ireland to fill in and submit to the local authority with their preferences of Secondary schools.

Waiting list

A list created by individual schools for allocating students who did not receive a position in their school on the offer day. Students who are registered on the waiting list will be placed an offer according to the school’s vacancies and prioritisation criteria.