School jobs glossary
165 terms you'll meet in school job adverts, pay scales and safeguarding, explained in plain English with an example and links to pay pages and live jobs.
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A
- Academic yearThe school year in England, running from 1 September to 31 August. Teacher pay awards and contracts usually follow it.
- AcademyA state-funded school run by an academy trust rather than the local authority. Academies are funded directly by government and can set their own pay, term dates and curriculum within their funding agreement.
- Academy trustThe charitable company that runs one or more academies and employs their staff.
- Actual salaryWhat you are actually paid after adjusting the FTE salary for your hours and weeks.
- Alternative provision — APEducation arranged for pupils who cannot attend mainstream school, for example because of exclusion or illness.
- Application formThe form many schools require instead of a CV, so they can check full employment history for safer recruitment.
- Apply for QTSThe free DfE online service for teachers trained in eligible countries to gain QTS in England.
- AppraisalThe annual review of a member of staff's performance, often linked to pay progression for teachers.
- ApprenticeshipA paid job with training towards a recognised qualification. Schools offer apprenticeships such as teaching assistant and school business roles.
- Assessment only route — AOA route to QTS for experienced unqualified teachers, who are assessed against the Teachers' Standards without a training course.
- Assistant headteacherA senior leader below the deputy head, usually paid on the leadership pay range and responsible for a whole-school area.
- Attainment 8A secondary school performance measure based on pupils' results in eight GCSE-level qualifications.
B
- Back payExtra pay owed when a pay award is backdated, for example when a September award is paid later in the year.
- Behaviour leadA member of staff responsible for behaviour policy and support across a school or phase.
- Burgundy BookThe national agreement on conditions of service for teachers in maintained schools, covering sick pay, maternity pay and notice.
- BursarA senior finance and operations role, especially in independent schools; similar to a school business manager.
C
- Capability procedureThe formal process a school follows when a teacher's performance falls below the required standard.
- Career average pensionA pension built up each year as a share of that year's pay, then revalued. Both the TPS and LGPS work this way.
- Certificate of sponsorship — CoSThe reference number a licensed sponsor gives a worker so they can apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
- Children's barred listThe DBS list of people barred from regulated activity with children. Schools check it for staff in regulated activity.
- Clerk to governorsThe person who advises the governing board on procedure and minutes its meetings.
- Cover supervisorA support staff role supervising classes when the usual teacher is absent, using work the teacher has set.
- CPD — Continuing professional developmentTraining and learning that helps staff develop in their role.
- CV — Curriculum vitaeA summary of your career and qualifications. Many schools ask for an application form instead of, or as well as, a CV.
D
- DBS — Disclosure and Barring ServiceThe government body that carries out criminal record checks in England and Wales. Most school roles need an enhanced DBS check.
- DBS Update ServiceA subscription that keeps a DBS certificate up to date so employers can check it online.
- Deputy DSL — Deputy designated safeguarding leadStaff trained to the same level as the DSL who cover safeguarding when the DSL is unavailable.
- Deputy headteacherA senior leader who deputises for the headteacher, paid on the leadership pay range.
- Directed timeThe hours a full-time teacher in a maintained school can be directed to work: 1,265 hours over 195 days a year.
- Disadvantaged pupilsPupils eligible for pupil premium funding, such as those on free school meals in the last six years or looked-after children.
- DSL — Designated safeguarding leadThe senior member of staff responsible for safeguarding and child protection in a school.
E
- Early yearsEducation and care for children from birth to five, including nursery and reception.
- Early years practitionerA member of staff working with young children in a nursery, pre-school or school early years class.
- ECF — Early career frameworkThe DfE framework of training and support that ECTs follow during induction.
- ECT — Early career teacherA newly qualified teacher in their two-year induction period, supported by a mentor and the early career framework.
- EHCP — Education, health and care planA legal document from the local authority describing a child's special educational needs and the support they must receive, for ages 0 to 25.
- Enhanced DBS checkThe highest level of DBS check, showing spent and unspent convictions, cautions and relevant police information; it can include a barred list check.
- EstynThe education inspectorate in Wales.
- Executive headteacherA leader responsible for more than one school, often within a trust or federation.
- EYFS — Early years foundation stageThe statutory framework for learning, development and care for children from birth to five.
- EYTS — Early years teacher statusA status for graduates specialising in birth to five. It is not the same as QTS.
F
- FE — Further educationEducation after 16 outside schools and universities, mainly in colleges.
- FederationTwo or more maintained schools sharing one governing board.
- Fixed-term contractA contract that ends on a set date or event, such as covering maternity leave.
- Flexible workingWorking arrangements such as part-time hours, job shares or staggered hours. Employees can request flexible working from day one.
- Free schoolA new academy set up by a trust, often with a particular focus. Free schools are academies in law.
- FSM — Free school mealsFree lunches for eligible pupils; FSM eligibility is a common measure of disadvantage.
- FTE — Full-time equivalentPay or hours expressed as if the job were full time. Part-time staff are paid a proportion of the FTE salary.
G
- GCSE — General Certificate of Secondary EducationThe main qualifications taken at age 16 in England. Many school jobs ask for GCSE English and maths at grade 4 (C) or above.
- Governing boardThe group responsible for the strategic direction of a school or trust and for holding leaders to account.
- GradeThe pay band for a support staff post, set locally and linked to spinal column points.
- Green BookThe NJC national agreement on pay and conditions for local government staff, used for many school support staff.
H
- Half termA one-week break in the middle of each term.
- Head of department — HoDA middle leader responsible for a subject in a secondary school, usually with a TLR.
- Head of schoolA leader who runs one school day to day, often under an executive headteacher.
- Head of year — HoYA pastoral middle leader responsible for a year group's welfare, behaviour and progress.
- HeadteacherThe leader responsible for a school's education, staff and day-to-day management, paid within a headteacher group range.
- Headteacher groupOne of eight bands, based on weighted pupil numbers, that sets a headteacher's pay range.
- HLTA — Higher level teaching assistantAn experienced TA who meets the HLTA standards and can teach whole classes, including covering PPA time.
I
- Independent schoolA fee-paying school not funded by the state. Independent schools set their own pay and conditions.
- INSET day — In-service training dayA day when pupils are not in school and staff take part in training. Most schools have five a year.
- InstructorA person without QTS employed to teach a specialist skill where no suitable qualified teacher is available.
- iQTS — International qualified teacher statusA DfE-accredited teacher training programme taken outside the UK, leading to the equivalent of QTS.
- ISI — Independent Schools InspectorateThe inspectorate for many independent schools in England that are members of associations.
- ITT — Initial teacher trainingA course leading to QTS, such as a PGCE, SCITT, School Direct or teaching apprenticeship.
J
K
- KCSIE — Keeping children safe in educationThe DfE's statutory safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges in England, updated each September.
- Key stageThe stages of the national curriculum: KS1 (ages 5–7), KS2 (7–11), KS3 (11–14), KS4 (14–16) and KS5 (16–18).
- KS1 — Key stage 1Years 1 and 2 of primary school, ages 5 to 7.
- KS2 — Key stage 2Years 3 to 6 of primary school, ages 7 to 11, ending with SATs.
- KS3 — Key stage 3Years 7 to 9 of secondary school, ages 11 to 14.
- KS4 — Key stage 4Years 10 and 11, ages 14 to 16, when pupils take GCSEs.
- KS5 — Key stage 5Sixth form study, ages 16 to 18, such as A levels and T levels.
L
- LA — Local authorityThe council responsible for education services such as admissions, SEND and maintained schools in its area.
- Leadership pay rangeThe pay spine for headteachers, deputies and assistant heads, points L1 to L43.
- Leading practitionerA teacher whose main purpose is modelling and leading improvement in teaching, paid on its own pay range.
- Level 3 TA qualificationA vocational qualification for teaching assistants, such as the Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning.
- LGPS — Local Government Pension SchemeThe pension scheme for most support staff in schools.
- London weightingHigher pay for working in London. Teachers have separate pay ranges for Inner London, Outer London and the fringe.
- Looked-after children — LACChildren in the care of a local authority. Schools have a designated teacher for them.
- LSA — Learning support assistantA support role similar to a TA, often focused on pupils with SEND.
M
- Main pay range — MPRThe pay range for qualified classroom teachers in England, points M1 to M6.
- Maintained schoolA school funded and overseen by the local authority, such as a community, foundation or voluntary school.
- MAT — Multi-academy trustAn academy trust that runs more than one academy.
- Maternity coverA temporary post covering a member of staff on maternity or other parental leave.
- MentorAn experienced teacher who supports a trainee or ECT with weekly meetings and feedback.
- Midday supervisorA support role supervising pupils at lunchtime.
- Middle leaderA leader below senior leadership, such as a head of department, head of year or phase leader.
N
- NASENCO — National Award for SEN CoordinationThe former mandatory SENCO qualification, replaced by the NPQ for SENCOs for new SENCOs from September 2024.
- National offer dayThe day families receive school place offers: 1 March for secondary and 16 April for primary (or the next working day).
- NJC — National Joint Council for Local Government ServicesThe body that negotiates national pay and conditions for local government staff, including most support staff in maintained schools.
- Notice periodHow much notice you must give to leave a job. Teachers in maintained schools resign by set dates; support staff give notice under their contract.
- NPQ — National professional qualificationDfE-accredited qualifications for teachers and leaders, such as NPQs in leading teaching, senior leadership and headship.
- NPQ for SENCOsThe national professional qualification that new SENCOs must complete within three years of taking the role. It replaced the NASENCO award from September 2024.
- NPQH — NPQ for headshipThe national professional qualification for aspiring and new headteachers.
- NPQLL — NPQ in leading literacyOne of the specialist NPQs, for teachers leading literacy. Others cover leading teaching, behaviour and teacher development.
- NPQSL — NPQ for senior leadershipThe national professional qualification for senior leaders, such as assistant and deputy heads.
- NQT — Newly qualified teacherThe former name for teachers in their first year after qualifying, replaced by ECT in September 2021.
- Nursery nurseA qualified early years worker, usually with a level 3 childcare qualification, caring for and teaching young children.
O
P
- Part-timeWorking fewer hours than a full-time post. Part-time teachers' pay and directed time are worked out from their FTE.
- PastoralSupport for pupils' welfare, wellbeing and behaviour rather than academic teaching.
- Pay awardThe annual increase to national pay scales, for teachers through the STRB and for support staff through the NJC.
- Pay progressionMoving up the pay range, usually each September following appraisal.
- Person specificationThe list of essential and desirable skills, qualifications and experience for a job.
- Personal statementThe part of an application where you explain why you suit the role, linked to the person specification.
- PGCE — Postgraduate Certificate in EducationAn academic qualification often taken alongside QTS on a postgraduate teacher training course.
- Phase leaderA primary middle leader responsible for a group of year groups, such as key stage 1.
- PhonicsTeaching reading by linking sounds and letters. Schools use DfE-validated systematic synthetic phonics programmes.
- PPA time — Planning, preparation and assessmentGuaranteed time for teachers to plan, prepare and assess: at least 10% of their timetabled teaching time.
- Pro rataPaid in proportion to the hours or weeks worked compared with a full-time post.
- Progress 8A secondary performance measure comparing pupils' progress from the end of KS2 to GCSE with similar pupils nationally.
- Prohibition orderAn order from the Secretary of State banning a person from teaching in England.
- PRU — Pupil referral unitA local authority school for pupils who cannot attend mainstream school, such as after exclusion.
- Pupil premiumExtra government funding for schools to support disadvantaged pupils.
Q
R
- ReceptionThe first year of primary school (age 4 to 5), the final year of the EYFS.
- Recruitment agencyA business that places staff in schools, often for supply or temporary roles, and charges the school a fee.
- Regulated activityWork with children that a barred person must not do, such as regular teaching or care.
- Resignation deadlinesThe dates by which teachers in maintained schools must resign: 31 October (to leave at Christmas), 28 or 29 February (Easter) and 31 May (summer).
- Resourced provisionA specialist unit within a mainstream school for pupils with a particular type of SEND.
- Right to work checkA legal check that a person can work in the UK, done before employment starts.
S
- SafeguardingProtecting children from maltreatment and harm and promoting their welfare. Every member of school staff has safeguarding duties.
- Safer recruitmentRecruitment practice that deters and identifies people unsuitable to work with children, set out in KCSIE.
- Salaried teacher trainingTraining routes where the trainee is employed and paid by a school, such as postgraduate teaching apprenticeships.
- SAT — Single-academy trustAn academy trust that runs only one academy.
- SATs — Key stage 2 national testsNational curriculum tests in reading, maths and grammar taken at the end of Year 6.
- School admissionsThe process for applying for school places, run through the local authority for most state schools.
- School business manager — SBMA senior support role responsible for a school's finance, premises, HR and operations.
- SCITT — School-centred initial teacher trainingTeacher training run by a group of schools, leading to QTS and often a PGCE.
- SCP — Spinal column pointA point on the NJC pay spine. Support staff grades span a range of SCPs.
- SCR — Single central recordThe register every school must keep of pre-appointment checks on staff, such as identity, DBS and right to work.
- SEN — Special educational needsLearning difficulties or disabilities that need special educational provision. Often written as SEND.
- SEN allowanceAn extra payment for teachers in a special school, or in SEN posts that meet the STPCD criteria.
- SEN supportExtra help for pupils with special educational needs who do not have an EHCP.
- SENCO — Special educational needs coordinatorThe qualified teacher who coordinates SEN provision in a school. New SENCOs must complete the NPQ for SENCOs within three years.
- SEND — Special educational needs and disabilitiesThe term for pupils who need extra or different support with learning because of a need or disability.
- Sixth formEducation for 16 to 18-year-olds in a school sixth form or sixth form college.
- Skilled Worker visaThe main UK work visa for teachers who need sponsorship, needing a job offer from a licensed sponsor.
- SLT — Senior leadership teamThe headteacher, deputies, assistant heads and sometimes the business manager.
- Special schoolA school for pupils with specific or complex special educational needs.
- Statutory inductionThe two-year period new teachers complete after gaining QTS, assessed against the Teachers' Standards.
- STPCD — School teachers' pay and conditions documentThe statutory document setting pay and conditions for teachers in maintained schools in England.
- STRB — School Teachers' Review BodyThe independent body that recommends teacher pay awards to government each year.
- Subject leadA teacher, often in a primary school, responsible for one subject across the school.
- Supply teacherA teacher who covers absences, usually employed through an agency or a local supply pool.
- Suspension and exclusionA suspension removes a pupil for a fixed period; a permanent exclusion removes them from the school roll.
T
- Teachers' StandardsThe DfE standards that set the minimum level of practice expected of trainees and teachers in England, used for QTS, induction and appraisal.
- Teaching assistant — TAA member of support staff who helps teachers with learning in class, small groups or one-to-one.
- Temp to permA temporary placement that may become a permanent job.
- Term datesThe dates when schools are open to pupils. Councils set them for community schools; academies and independent schools can set their own.
- Term-time only — TTOA contract paid for the weeks you work in term plus paid holiday entitlement, spread across 12 months. Common for support staff.
- ThresholdThe move from the main pay range to the upper pay range, usually after an application assessed against school criteria.
- TLR — Teaching and learning responsibility paymentAn extra payment for a teacher with a sustained additional responsibility. There are three levels: TLR1, TLR2 and TLR3 (temporary).
- TPS — Teachers' Pension SchemeThe defined benefit pension scheme for teachers in state schools and many other education employers.
- TRA — Teaching Regulation AgencyThe DfE agency that awards QTS and regulates the teaching profession, including prohibition orders.
- TRN — Teacher reference numberA seven-digit number issued by the Teaching Regulation Agency to teachers and trainees.
- Trust CEO — Chief executive officerThe accounting officer and most senior leader of an academy trust.
- TrusteeA member of an academy trust's board, legally responsible for the trust.
U
V
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