Jargon Buster

AAP

Associate Assistant Principal

Academy

A state-funded school which is directly funded by the Department for Education and independent of Local Authority control.

Academy Converter

A school that has chosen through Governing Body Resolution and application to the Secretary of State to become an Academy under the Academies Act 2010. They can be a ‘stand-alone’ Academy or choose to join a sponsor.

Academy (Sponsor Led)

A school that was directed by the Secretary of State to become an Academy under the Academies Act 2010. They can be a ‘stand-alone’ Academy or choose to join a sponsor.

ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
A condition whereby a child has difficulty in maintaining concentration and is unable to stay on task due to hyperactivity.

AFL

Assessment for Learning
Using evidence from assessment to check student progress and inform teachers’ planning.

APP

Assessing Pupil Progress

A system for using assessment criteria to assess progress and inform planning.

ASD

Autistic Spectrum Disorder
A developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.

Assessment

Ways of judging how well students are progressing.

Attainment

What students accomplish.

ATL

Attitude to Learning
Every student is graded on this in every subject each term.

Awarding Bodies

The Exam Boards who award examination results.

BFL

Behaviour for Learning
A code that sets out the behaviour expected of students.

Bridge Centre

The Bridge Centre is the place where the Student Support Team are based. It is also known as the Inclusion Centre.

British Values

A Government initiative to promote tolerance and equality. The British Values are democracy, mutual tolerance and respect for those of different faiths and beliefs, the rule of law and individual liberty.

BTL

Barrier to Learning
Some students perform less well than we would like because of specific barriers. The BTL is an optional column when ATL data is reported which is designed to flag up students where organisation, literacy or numeracy, or combinations of them, are preventing the student from progressing as well as we would like.

CAGs

Centre Assessed Grades
In 2020, CAGs were used to replace examinations. They were estimated by teachers based on what the students would most likely have achieved if they had sat exams and completed a non-exam assessment.

Catchment Area

A defined geographical area from which a school takes its students.

CBT

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Centre

Exam Boards and the JCQ refer to schools as ‘Centre’. The places where examinations take place.

CEW

Curriculum Enhancement Week
Each year during the second half of the Summer Term, CEW enables students to broaden their horizons and experience subjects in a different context to usual. During this week, students spend the entire school day focusing on one area of the curriculum with a range of engaging activities on offer.

CG

Current Grade

Citizenship

The subject which covers three interrelated areas; social and moral responsibility, community involvement and political literacy.

C&I

Communication and Interaction

C&L

Cognition and Learning

Classy Celia

The report that is used to compare a class’s predicted grades to their target grades. This should be used to drive intervention by class teachers and Subject Leaders.

Code of Practice (SEND)

A guide to schools and Local Authorities (LAs) about the help they can give to children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Community Schools

Schools wholly funded by the Local Authority (LA).

Core Curriculum

English, Mathematics and a Science; these subjects which must be studied by all students.

Curriculum

All the courses and learning opportunities a school offers or a course of study being followed by a child. What is taught, when it is taught and how it is taught.

DfE

The Department for Education

Differentiation

The way in which the Academy’s curriculum and teaching methods are adapted to meet the needs of children of differing abilities.

Disadvantaged (Pupil)

For statistical purposes, the DfE defines ‘Disadvantaged’ students as children who have qualified for Free School Meals (FSM) in the past six years, children with a parent in the armed services, looked after children (in the care system) and children who have previously been looked after. National trends are that these students tend to perform less well than their non-disadvantaged (‘other’) peers. Raising the attainment of disadvantaged students is a priority of the DfE. Disadvantaged students attract extra funding through the Pupil Premium process and the Academy is measured on their success.

DSL and ADSL

Designated Safeguarding Lead and Alternate Designated Safeguarding Lead
The members of staff responsible for Child Protection. At Attleborough Academy, the DSL is Grant Martin and the ADSLs are Aleisje Howes, Marie Medley, Michala Parks and Chris Skipper.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia affects the ability to acquire arithmetical skills. Suffers may have difficulty understanding simple number concepts and often have problems learning number facts and procedures.

Dyslexia

A learning difficulty of which the chief manifestation is a particular difficulty with reading and spelling. For more information, please visit the British Dyslexia Association.

Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is generally recognised as an impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement. Associated with this may be problems of language, perception and thought.

EBACC

English Baccalaureate
The EBacc is a school performance measure linked to the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). It is not a qualification. It measures the percentage of students in a school who achieve 5+ A*-C grades in traditionally academic GCSE subjects (English, Mathematics, Science, History or Geography and a Language).

EBD

Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

EHCP

Education Health and Care Plan
An EHCP is a legal document which sets out a description of your child’s needs (what he or she can and cannot do) and what needs to be done to meet those needs by education, health and social care. Generally, only a very small number of children with especially complex and severe needs – which require very high levels of support – are issued with an EHCP. They are a more comprehensive replacement for ‘Statements’.

EFA

Education Funding Agency
The Education Funding Agency (EFA) administers education revenue and capital funding for learners between the ages of 3 and 19 or up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It also supports building and maintenance programmes for schools, Academies, free schools and Sixth Form Colleges. EFA is an executive agency of the Department for Education.

Equal Opportunities

The principle of non-discrimination which emphasizes that opportunities in school should be freely available to everyone irrespective of their age, race, sex, religion, political association, ethnic origin, or any other individual or group characteristic unrelated to ability, performance, and qualification. The chance for everyone, no matter what their ability background, to participate in school life/curriculum.

Evaluation

The making of a judgement about the success of something e.g. How well did it work?

Exam Boards

The organisations who decide on the content for exam courses and set and mark the exam questions.

Faculty

At Attleborough Academy, subjects are loosely grouped into one of five faculties. The core subjects are led by a Head of Faculty and other subjects are individually led by Subject Leaders.

FE

Further Education
The FE sector in England includes Further Education Colleges, Sixth Form Colleges, Specialist Colleges and Adult Education institutes. It does not include Universities.

FSM

Free School Meals

FSM – Ever Six

Any student who has been registered for Free School Meals in the last six years.

FTE

Fixed Term Exclusion

Functional Skills

Functional Skills are practical skills in English, Maths and ICT that help learners gain the most out of work, education and everyday life.

G&T

Gifted and Talented
The gifted are those with high ability in one or more academic subject and the talented are those with a high ability in sport, music, visual arts and/or performing arts.

GCSE

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Gold Groups

At Attleborough Academy, we have vertical tutor (form) groups from Year 7 to Year 10. Year 11 stand alone and are split into ‘Gold’ groups in order to prepare for GCSE.

Growth Mindset

In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work - brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great achievement.

HI

Hearing Impairment

HLTA

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

HOF

Head of Faculty

HOH

Head of House

HOY

Head of Year

Houses

Every student at Attleborough Academy is organised into one of four houses; Boudicca, Cavell, Kett and Nelson. Houses are led by a Head of House (a teacher) working with House Captains (students).

IAG

Information, Advice and Guidance
To inform students about their options for further education and training.

ICT

Information and Communication Technology

IEP

Individual Education Plan
Drawn up by a school’s SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator). It sets targets for a child to achieve and a date for a review of progress.

Inclusion

The process by which schools, Local Education Authorities and others develop their cultures, policies and practices to include and provide for ALL students’ needs - no matter what their background or ability.

INSET

In-Service Education and Training
INSET Days are set aside to allow teachers to update their skills and knowledge to raise student achievement.

JCQ

Joint Council for Qualifications
This is a National organisation that oversees examination administration.

KCSiE

Keeping Children Safe in Education
The statutory guidance from the Department for Education that sets out the legal duties that govern all schools and colleges in England when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under the age of 18.

Key Stage

A child’s progress through school is measured in Key Stages. Key Stage 1 covers students aged from 5–7, Key Stage 2 from 7–11, Key Stage 3 from 11–14, Key Stage 4 from 14–16 and Key Stage 5 from 16-18.

LA

Local Authority
A body responsible for providing education for students of school age in its area. It also has responsibility for Early Years, the Youth Service and Adult Education.

LAC

Looked After Children
The term ‘Looked After Children’ is defined in law under the Children Act 1989. A child is looked after by a Local Authority if he or she is in their care or is provided with accommodation for more than 24 hours by the Local Authority.

LEA

Local Education Authority
This was the part of the local council that was responsible for education. The phrase is now obsolete in official use and has been replaced by the Children Services Authority or commonly known as Local Authority.

Learning Difficulty

If a child has a learning difficulty, he or she may find it harder to learn, understand and communicate than it is for other children.

LSA

Learning Support Assistant
A non-teaching member of staff who helps to meet the educational needs of children. LSAs support teachers in classes and work with small groups or individual students in extraction.

LT

Leadership Team
The Leadership Team comprises the Executive Principal, Deputy Principal, Assistant Principals, Associate Assistant Principals, Director of Administration and Director of Student Support. During the 2026-2027 academic year, the Head of Faculty for Humanities and Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) is seconded to the Leadership Team.

MEG

Minimum Expected Grade
The minimum expected grade a Key Stage 4 student should be aiming for.

MEL

Minimum Expected Level
The minimum expected level a Key Stage 3 student should be aiming for.

MLD

Moderate Learning Difficulty

MT

Management Team
The Academy’s Management Team includes everyone who holds a TLR2 and TLR1 responsibility and those on the Leadership scale.

National Curriculum

The basic framework setting out what children aged 5–16 in state schools should learn.

OFQUAL

The Office of Qualification and Examination Regulation
The Government body that oversees exams and qualifications.

OFSTED

Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills
The body which inspects state funded schools. OFSTED inspectors produce education reports to help improve schools.

OPP

One Page Profile
Drawn up by the Student Support Team, it sets targets for a child to achieve and a date for a review of progress.

Participation

Do all students join in? Can they?

PDBW

Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare

PEEP

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan

PEX

Permanent Exclusion

PFG

Parent Focus Group
Representative of the Academy’s parental body, the PFG serves as consultative and advisory group (but without delegated monitoring and reporting responsibility) and meets with the LT on a termly basis.

PFL

Prepared for Learning
This is the Academy Procedure to ensure our students are ready for lessons (i.e. they have the correct stationery equipment etc)

PG

Predicted Grade

PP

Pupil Premium
The PP is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers.

PMLD

Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties
Severe and complex difficulties as well as a physical disability or sensory impairment.

Progress 8

Progress 8 is a measure of the progress children make between the end of primary school and the end of secondary school. It considers English, Maths and six other subjects.

PSED

Public Sector Equality Duty
The PSED is a duty on public authorities to consider or think about how their policies or decisions affect people who are protected under the Equality Act. Please visit the Academy website to view our objectives.

Safeguarding

To promote the safety and well-being of all students and staff at Attleborough Academy. This includes Child Protection.

SEMHD

Social, Emotional, Mental Health Difficulties

SEN

Special Education Needs
Learning difficulties, talents or other needs for which a child requires extra help.

SEND

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
A child or young person has special educational needs and disabilities if they have a learning difficulty and/or a disability that means they need special health and education support.

SENDCO

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator
This is the designated teacher responsible for co-ordinating provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

SET

Sapientia Education Trust
The family of schools that Attleborough Academy belongs to.

SLCN

Speech Language and Communication Needs

SLD

Severe Learning Difficulty

SLT

Senior Leadership Team
The Executive Principal, Deputy Principal and Assistant Principals form the Senior Leadership Team.

SMT

Senior Management Team
The Senior Leadership Team, the Leadership Team, the Wider Leadership Team and the Heads of Faculty and Heads of Key Stage form the Senior Management Team.

S&P

Sensory and/or Physical

SpLD

Specific Learning Difficulty
A child has a Specific Learning Difficulty if he/she has an identified problem with one or more areas of the curriculum, usually reading, writing, spelling and/or number work.

SRB

Specialist Resource Base
The SRB extracts some students from lessons to give them support as individuals or in small groups.

SSSM

Senior Student Support Mentor
A senior member of the Student Support Team who has additional responsibility such as being a ADSL and a Line Manager.

SSM

Student Support Mentor
Staff who work in the Student Support Team.

Student Support Team

The team of support staff who are student focussed. Specific specialisms of work include Attendance, Behaviour, Safeguarding, Special Educational Needs, Re-integration and Vulnerable Students.

Support Staff

Members of staff employed by the Academy who provide support services in school other than teaching.

TAC

Team Around the Child
The team of senior leaders that meet on a regular basis to review student needs, co-ordinate support strategies and monitor the impact of interventions. Separate meetings are held for Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and for Sixth Form students.

TAGs

Teacher Assessed Grades
In 2021, TAGs were used to replace exams. They required teachers to gather, mark and moderate evidence to show what grades students were working at.

Targets

The individual goals set for a child. Targets are a way of checking the child’s progress.

TG

Target Grade

TUB

Tuesday Week B
Each Tuesday Week B (hence “TUB”), tutors exchange their normal vertical tutor group for a horizontal one. It is usually the same group each time.  

Vertical Tutor Groups

Tutor groups made up of students from Year 7 to Year 10.

VI

Visual Impairment

VSR

Virtual Staff Room

WLT

Wider Leadership Team
The Head of English and Media Faculty joins the Senior Leadership Team and the Leadership Team to form the Wider Leadership Team.

Work Experience

A system which allows students approaching the end of secondary education the opportunity to take part in work placements.