Hmmmmmmm ? I?m going to say:- ?By all means listen but make sure you ask a question at the first meeting (or even two questions!). Let them know that you are going to be a ?Great Governor?.
'... to decode the education language'
Here you are:-
Education Abbreviations & Acronyms
Education is probably guiltier of using acronyms and abbreviations than most other professions. Good Practice for all documentation in schools should mean that they are always explained, but occasionally people forget for good reasons, usually pressure of work and 101 deadlines to meet. The following list is therefore aimed to help you pick your way through the jungle of jargon that you will doubtless meet. Please always ask if anyone uses an abbreviation or acronym in a meeting and you don?t know what it means.
A2 - Examinable qualifications taken in the second year of the sixth form
ALIS - 'A' Level Information System
ALS - Additional Literacy Support
AMG - Annual Maintenance Grant
AS - Examinable qualifications taken in the first year of the sixth form
ASWO - Assistant Student Welfare Officer
AT1 - Attainment Target 1 (National Curriculum)
AVCE - Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (new Vocational A Level)
AWPU - Age weighted pupil unit
BSP - Behaviour Support Plan
CATS - Cogitative Ability Tests
CM - Curriculum Management
CDP - College Development Plan
CMC - Curriculum & Management Consultancy (Surrey)
CoP - Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs
CPD - Continuing Professional Development
DDP - Department Development Plan
DfEE - Department for Education and Employment (replaced by DfES)
DfES - Department for Education and Skills
DH - Deputy Head
DT - Design Technology
EAL - English as an Additional Language
EBD - Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
EBP - Education Business Partnership
ECS - Education Children's Service
EDP - Educational Development Plan (usually LEA)
EMAG - Ethnic Minorities Achievement Grant
EMSE - Education Management South East (Regional Consortia for Leadership & Management
EPS - Educational Psychology Service
ESL - English as a Second Language
ESW - Educational Social Worker
EWO - Education Welfare Officer
EWS - Education Welfare Service
EYDP - Early Years Development Plan
FE - Further Education (Post 16)
F&GP - Finance and General Purposes
FGB - Full Governing Body
GB - Governing Body
GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education (usually taken at age 16)
GCE - General Certificate of Education (A Level)
GM - Grant Maintained
GNVQ - General National Vocational Qualification
HHTBMS - Home and Hospital Tuition and Behaviour Management Service
HMI - Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools
HOD - Head of Department
HOF - Head of Faculty
HOY - Head of Year
HR - Human Resources
IBP - Individual Behaviour Plan
ICT - Information, Communication, Technology
IELS - Intercultural and English Language Service
IEP - Individual Education Plan
IiP - Investors in People
INSET - In Service Educational Training
ISP - Improving Student Performance (Group)
KS - Key Skills
KS1 - Key Stage 1 - primary years 1 to 3, ages 5 to 7
KS2 - Key Stage 2 - primary years 4 to 6, ages 8 to 11
KS3 - Key Stage 3 - secondary years 7 to 9, ages 12 to 14
KS4 - Key Stage 4 - secondary years 10 to 11, ages 15 to 16
KS5 - Key Stage 5 - tertiary years 12 and 13, ages 17 to 18
LD - Learning Difficulties
LEA - Local Education Authority
LLSS - Learning and Language Support Services
LMS - Local Management of Schools
LPSH - Leadership Programme for Serving Heads
LQSH - Leadership Qualification for Serving Heads
LSA - Learning Support Assistant
LSC - Learning and Skills Council
LSS - Learning Support Services
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
NAHT - National association of Headteachers
NASUWT - National Association Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers
NC - National Curriculum
NDS - New Deal for Schools
NGfL - National Grid for Learning
NLS - National Literacy Scheme
NOF - New Opportunities Funding
NPQH - National Professional Qualification for Headship
NQT - Newly Qualified Teacher
NRA - National Record of Achievement
NUT - National Union of Teachers
OFSTED - Office for Standards in Education
PACE - Personal and careers Education
PAN - Published Admission Number
PANDA - Performance AND Assessment (report from OFSTED)
PDP - Personal Development Plan / Professional Development Portfolio
PGCE - Post Graduate Certificate in Education
PMS - Performance Management Scheme
PTFA - Parent Teachers and Friends Association
PTR - Pupil / Teacher Ratio
PRU - Pupil Referral Unit
PSE - Personal and Social Education
PSHE - Personal, social and health education
PSP - Pastoral Support Plan
QCA - Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
RASSG - Raising Achievement in Surrey Schools Group
SACRE - Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education/Surrey Agreed Curriculum for Religious Education
SAS - Standard Age Score
SATS - Standard Attainment Tests
SCAA - School Curriculum and Assessment Authority
SCC - Surrey County Council
SD - Staff Development
SDP - School Development Plan
SEGFL - South East Grid for Learning
SEN - Special Education Needs
SENCO - Special Education Needs Co-ordinator
SENREP - Special Educational Needs Departmental Representative
SENSE - National Deaf / Blind Association
SER - Self Evaluation and Review
SI - Statutory Instrument
SID - Special Interest Department
SIMS - School Information Management System
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
SLW - Student Link Worker
SMSA - School meals (midday) supervisory assistant
SMT - Senior Management Team
SOSS - Senior Officer - Safety and Support
SOW - Scheme of Work
SPLD - Specific Learning Difficulties
SSA - Special Support Assistant
ST - Senior Teacher
STRB - School Teachers Review Body
SWO - Student Welfare Officer
TC - Technology College
TCDG - Technology College Development Group
TED - Teacher Education Day
TTA - Teacher Training Agency
VCE - Vocational Certificate in Education
YELLIS - Year 11 Information System