Association of Colleges

Adult Advancement and Careers Service (formerly ACS)

Association of Accounting Technicians

Annual Assessment Visit

Adult Basic Education

Awdurdod Cymwysterau Cwricwlwm ac Asesu Cymru/Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales - is the body responsible in Wales for regulating external qualifications and keeping under review all aspects of the curriculum for compulsory school age pupils in maintained schools.

Association of Colleges for the Eastern Region. ACER represents all 36 Further Education, Tertiary, Sixth Form and Agricultural and Horticultural Colleges in the East of England.

Association for ICT in Education

Adult and Community Learning

Association of College Management

Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education

Advancement and Careers Service (for adults)

The Association of Directors of Children's Services

Adult Financial Literacy Advisory Group

Adult Dyslexia Support

Adult Education

Advanced Extension Award introduced for first examination in 2002 as part of Curriculum 2000 reforms

Average Level of Funding

Adult Learning Inspectorate

Adults Learning Mathematics

Association of Learning Providers

Association of Learning Technology

Association of Northern Ireland Colleges

Awarding Organisation

The Association of Colleges (AoC) exists to represent and promote the interests of Colleges and provide members with professional support services. As such, we aim to be the authoritative voice of Colleges based on credible analysis, research, advocacy and consultation with Colleges and the first choice destination for guidance and advice for members. AoC was established in 1996 by Colleges themselves as a voice for further education and higher education delivered in Colleges at national and regional level. Our membership includes General and Tertiary Further Education Colleges, Sixth Form Colleges and Specialist Colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Application of Number, the Numeracy qualification from the key skills suite, available at levels 1 to 4 in the National Qualifications Framework

Accreditation of prior experiential learning

Accreditation of prior learning

Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, one of the three unitary awarding bodies in England. Came into existence in April 2000 following the merger of the Associated Examining Board and the Northern Examinations and Assessment Board.

Assessment Reform Group

Introduced for first teaching from September 2000, GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level, can be taken as a stand-alone qualification or as the first stage in an A level course.

Advanced Skills Teacher - teachers who are deemed 'excellent' in a range of skills in which they train colleagues.

Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education

Bachelor of Arts, first degree

British Association for Applied Linguistics

British Computer Society

1970 British Cohort Study

British Educational Communications & Technology Agency

Bachelor of Education, first degree

British Educational Research Association

British Educational Supplies Association

Bedford Group for Lifecourse and Statistical Studies

British Institute of Learning Difficulties

Basic Skills Agency

Bachelor of Science, first degree

City and Guilds. The leading vocational awarding body in the UK, awarding almost 50 per cent of all National Vocational Qualifications.

Curriculum 2000 - Qualifying for Success reforms introduced for first teaching in September 2000.

Computer aided learning

Confederation of British Industry. Subscription-based organisation consisting of small and large companies which claims to be the UK's premier independent business organisation.

Computer based learning

Computer based training

Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment is the body responsible in Northern Ireland for advising Government on what should be taught in schools, monitoring standards of qualifications and examinations and awarding qualifications.

Centre for Developing and Evaluating Lifelong Learning

Centre for the Economics of Education

Centre for Excellence in Leadership - now part of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service

Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults

Centre for Education Research and Innovation

Centre for British Teachers. CfBT is a not-for-profit education service provider, and lead member of the consortium working on the SfLQI.

Common Inspection Framework

Community Learning & Development

Curriculum Online

This training aims to familiarise basic skills tutors with the Core Curriculum documents for literacy, numeracy and ESOL.

Centres of vocational excellence

The Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) is owned and run on behalf of the further education sector. The income generated from CPC collaboration will be invested into facilitating better procurement in FE institutions.

Continuing Professional Development

Criminal Records Bureau

Centre for Studies in Inclusive Education

Cambridge Training and Development

Diploma Aggregation Service

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) was formed in 2009 following a merger of the Departments for Innovation, Universities and Skills and Business, Energy and Regulatory Reform. It was created to “bring all of the levers of the economy together in one place. Our policy areas – from skills and higher education to innovation and science to business and trade policy – can all help to drive growth.”

Diploma Development Partnership

The Department for Education (DfE) was formed on 12 May 2010 and is responsible for education and children's services.

New qualification for 14-19 year olds.

Funding drawn by training providers directly from the Learning and Skills Council. This funding is on a per learner basis and is automatically given to all British residents

Department of Trade and Industry

Department for Work and Pensions

Originally any sort of examination on computer, but it is starting to become more common referring to work submitted and marked by computer and not by hand. This can include essays (there are a number of research projects being done comparing the accuracy of work marked by hand as opposed to work marked by software.)

The central concept is learning online, either from software on a computer or accessing materials from the internet, but in general it applies to students learning in a distance learning environment whether they are studying from home, or work, but not in a classroom or lecture setting with other students.

Entry to Employment

English as an Additional Language

English for Academic Purposes

Education Action Zone

London Qualifications Ltd (formerly Edexcel Foundation) one of three unitary awarding bodies in England

English as a Foreign Language

Educational Institute of Scotland

Education and Library Boards (Northern Ireland only)

e-Learning Credit

Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department (Scotland)

English Language Teaching

Education Maintenance Allowance

Extended Project Qualification

Economic and Social Data Service

European Social Fund

English as a Second Language

English for Speakers of Other Languages

Educational Software Publishers Association

Economic & Social Research Council

Education Training and Skills

Federation of Awarding Bodies

Further Education

Further Education Resources for Learning

Foundation Learning

Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy

Framework of Regional Employment and Skills Action

Functional Skills

Free Standing Mathematics Qualification - suite of Mathematical Qualifications available at levels 1 to 3 in the National Qualifications Framework

Full time

General Certificate of Secondary Education a key qualification spanning levels 1 and 2 of the National Qualifications Framework and primarily taken at the end of key stage 4

Grants for Education, Support and Training (CPD Programme in Wales)

General National Vocational Qualification, available at levels 1 and 2 of National Qualifications Framework

General Teaching Council for England

General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland

General Teaching Council for Scotland

General Teaching Council for Wales

Graduate Teacher Programme - this programme is designed to allow schools to employ unqualified teachers who are preparing for QTS assessment, assess them against the standards for the award of QTS, and devise individual training plans for them.

Graduate Teacher Training Registry

Higher Education

Higher Education Funding Council for England

Higher Education Institutions - these encompass Colleges of higher education as well as universities.

Higher Education Staff Development Agency

Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sciences

Higher Professional Diploma

1.International Adult Literacy Survey 2.Institute for Applied Language Studies

Information and Communication Technology. Although in the past ICT and IT have often meant the same thing, distinction is being made between the two. ICT extends beyond just the technological use of computers and concerns the use of critical cognitive skills such as literacy, reading and numeracy as well as the application of technical skills and knowledge ("Digital Transformations", Educational Testing Service, 2002)

Institute for Learning (FE professional body)

Individual Learning Account

Individual Learning Plan

1. Institute for Learning and Teaching (HE professional body) 2. Information and Learning Technology - the application of IT or ICT within teaching and learning

In-Service Education of Teachers

Institute of Education, University of London

Information Technology. Although in the past ICT and IT have often meant the same thing, distinction is being made between the two. IT refers to the use of computers and the technical skills to use computers and software

Initial Teacher Education

Initial Teacher Training

Information Technology in Teacher Education

Joint Academic Network

Job Centre Plus

Joint Council for Qualifications

Joint Information Systems Committee

Joint Mathematics Council

King's College London (University of London)

Introduced through the Education Reform Act 1988. Learning in maintained and special schools is divided into four periods of learning: key stage 1 covers pupils aged 5 to 7, key stage 2 covers pupils aged 7 to 11, key stage 3 covers pupils aged 11 to 14, key stage 4 covers pupils aged 14 to 16.

King's-Medway-Oxfordshire Formative Assessment Project

Key Stage 3 Strategy introduced in 2000 is a multi-strand approach which includes mathematics and is designed to support teachers, trainee teachers and others working to improve mathematics at Key Stage 3

Local Authority

Learning Aims Database

Learning Activity Management System

Local Education Authority

Local Enterprise Company (part of the Scottish Enterprise Network)

Lifelong Education and International Development (at the Insitute of Education)

The Literacy, ESOL and Numeracy Scholarship Communityof the National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy

Local Government Association

Learners with learning difficulties and disabilities

Life Long Learning

Literacy, language and numeracy

Literacy Research Centre, Lancaster University

Local Learning and Skills Council

Formerly the London Language and Literacy Unit, a national consultancy and professional development centre for staff working in the areas of literacy, numeracy, dyslexia, family learning and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Based at London South Bank University

Learner Manager System

London South Bank University

Learning and Skills Council. There are nine regional learning and skills councils in England, as well as a national LSC office, based in Coventry. The LSCs are government agencies responsible for supplying funding to centres of adult learning, including Colleges, adult and community learning centres, professional development centres and other such organisations.

See SfLQI

Learning and Skills Development Agency, replaced by Quality Improvement Agency and Learning and Skills Network in April 2006.

Learning and Skills Improvement Service - new body established on 10 June 2008, merging Centre for Excellence in Leadership and Quality Improvement Agency

Learning and Skills Network (see LSDA)

Learning and Teaching Support Network

A three-year project which aims to stimulate a positive approach to teaching and learning in mathematics and numeracy in England, focusing on adults from Entry Level to Level 2

Mathematics in Education and Industry

Managed Learning Environment

Minimum Levels of Performance

Millennium Mathematics Project based at the Cambridge Centre for Mathematical Sciences

Machinery of Government - common term for changes outlined in the Raising Expectations White Paper

Master Professional Diploma

National Association of Advisers for Computers in Education

National Association of Mathematics Advisers

National Association for Numeracy and Mathematics in Colleges

National Audit Office

National Apprenticeship Service

National Association for Staff Development in the Post-16 Sector

National Association of Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults

National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (merged with Association of University Teachers in June 2006 to become the University and College Union).

Association of National Specialist Colleges

National Database of Accredited Qualifications

Non-departmental public body

National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

National Foundation for Educational Research

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education

National Institute for Economic and Social Research

Northern Ireland Numeracy Strategy

National Learning Network

National Numeracy Strategy introduced in September 1999 to support teachers, trainee teachers and others working to improve numeracy in primary schools

National Qualifications Framework

Newly Qualified Teacher

National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy

National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (in the US)

National Health Service University. Dissolved in July 2005

National Vocational Qualification

Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations, one of three unitary awarding bodies in England

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The Office of Examination Qualifications and Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.

Office for Standards in Education.

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is an independent office of HM Treasury, established to help Government deliver best value from its spending.

Offenders Learning and Skills Unit

l'Organisation mondiale pour l'education prescolaire. World Organisation for Early Childhood Education

Organisational Needs Analysis. A whole-organisation approach to needs analysis, often carried out prior to the start of a training programme at an organisation

Office of Science and Technology

Overseas Trained Teacher Programme

The Open University

Projects in a specified area which try out new approaches and assess their impact through practical activities

Post-Compulsory Education and Training

Professional Development Centres. Normally, they are formed from existing Colleges, and may supply training for basic skills tutors, or serve as advice and guidance points within their regions

Professional Development Forum

Parent Empowerment through Family Literacy

Postgraduate Certificate in Education -a one-year postgraduate qualification needed to teach in English state schools

Programme for International Student Assessment - a collaborative study among 28 member countries of OECD and four others to assess the knowledge and skills of 15-year olds in literacy, numeracy and science

Diploma Principal Learning

Programme-led Apprentice

Practitioner Led Research Initiative(NRDC project)

Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties

Programme of study in individual subjects of the national curriculum taught during the four key stages

Part-Time

Quality Assurance

Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency - the body responsible in England for regulating external qualifications and keeping under review all aspects of the curriculum for compulsory school age pupils in maintained schools.

Qualifications and Credit Framework

The Quality Improvement Agency - now part of LSIS

Qualification Success Rate

Qualified teacher status required by teachers to work in maintained schools and special schools in England and Wales

Research Assessment Exercise

Research and Practice in Adult Literacy

Regional Development Agency

Read On, Write Away

Royal Society of Arts

Regional Training Organisers. As part of the Skills for Life Quality Initiative, Regional Training Organisers aim to ensure that those involved in supporting language, literacy and numeracy have access to appropriate training that matches the needs of their organisations.

Registered Teacher Programme - a programme for people who have completed recognised teacher training overseas, and who have been accepted onto a UK course leading to a first degree (or equivalent qualification). Schools employ RTP trainees, working in partnership with higher education institutions, since participants must complete a degree at the same time as qualifying as a teacher. This programme requires Maths, English and Science standards

Scottish Council of National Training Organisations

Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme - a Govenment sponsored programme that encourages scientists and engineers to help in schools

List of qualifications approved for funding by YPLA

Staff and Educational Development Association

Special Educational Needs

Science, Engineering and Technology - includes mathematics for the purposes of this report

Science Engineering Technology and Mathematics Network that represents Government, industry, the engineering professional associations, education and education charities. Aimst to interest pupils in engineering-related subjects

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) funds and regulates education and training for adults, except higher education. The SFA is an Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Skills for Business Network

Scottish Further Education Funding Council

Scottish Further Education Unit

Scottish Further and Higher Education Association

The SfLQI is an initiative funded by the national Learning and Skills Council, being carried out by a consortium of organisations led by CfBT, and including NRDC, LSDA, LLU+, NIACE, CTAD and others. The two major aims for 2004-05 were: ensuring the professionalism of the Skills for Life workforce; building a whole-organisation approach to Skills for Life development to ensure the entire organisation takes a responsibility for Skills for Life.

Skills for Life Strategy Unit. Part of the Department for Education and Skills, responsible for implementing the Skills for Life strategy, overseen by a Cabinet Committee across all the relevant government departments

Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

The national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills introduced in 2001

Severe Learning Difficulties

Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities

The computer programs that control and run the computer as well as carry out the specific functionalities such as Word Processing.

Specific Learning Difficulties

Scottish Qualifications Authority is the national body in Scotland responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment and certification of qualifications other than degrees

Sector Skills Council (employer bodies)

Sector Skills Development Agency

Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics

Training and Development Agency for Schools

Training and Development Lead Body

Training and Enterprise Council

Teaching English as a Foreign Language

The Times Educational Supplement

Teaching English as a Second Language

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Test of English as a Foreign Language

Teachers Pay Initiative

Teachers' Professional Learning Framework, produced by the General Teaching Council for England, it outlines the professional development opportunities that teachers should be entitled to

Teachers' Pension Scheme

Teaching Qualification in Further Education

Teacher Training Agency - became Training Development Agency for schools in September 2005.

Trades Union Congress(Learning Services)

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Universities and Colleges Employers Association

Universities Council for the Education of Teachers

University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate

University and College Union. New union formed by the merger of Natfhe and AUT

University for Industry

UK Commission for Employment and Skills

Union Learning Fund. Fund, sponsored by the DBIS, that aims to support unions working in partnership projects to develop workplace learning opportunities for employees

Unique Learner Number

Union Learning Representative. The union learning rep is a new category of union activist, trained in advising members on learning needs and opportunities.

University Technical College

Universities UK

Vocational Certificate of Education designed as an alternative to GCE A level at level 3 of NQF

Virtual Learning Environment

Work Based Learning

Workplace Basic Skills Network. National organisation based at Lancaster University working with other agencies to help to establish and manage workplace basic skills development

Workers' Educational Association

An approach to Skills for Life that demands literacy, numeracy and language provision be a priority for all levels of the organisation. Embedding Skills for Life in teaching programmes is central to this.

Youth Cohort Study

Young Offender Institutions

Youth Offender Panels

The Young Peoples Learning Agency provides financial support to young students, by funding Academies for all their provision and by supporting local authorities to commission suitable education and training opportunities for all 16-19 year olds. The YPLA is an agency of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.