Decoding UK School Terminology

State Schools? Independent Schools? SEND? PP?

For 16 years, Gemma - our Editor-in-Chief - worked in schools so she completely understands how confusing the jargon used can be! In this article, Gemma outlines some of the key terms used in UK schools. If there are other terms you would like more information about, pop an email to Gemma at gemma@connectandchatter.com

Choosing a school, a tutor, suitable workbooks, mock exams and other resources can truly be a minefield for parents. It doesn’t help when schools and educators use jargon and abbreviations without appreciating that the terms can be a mystery for parents.

So, to support you, we are going to outline some of the key terms you might see on documents and websites to support you through the autumn term and beyond.

KEY TERMS 1: Schools

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is: ‘What’s the difference between a grammar, independent, state and grammar school?’

In England, we use a wide range of terms to describe our schools.

Let’s unpick the differences!

What is a state school?

State schools (also known as comprehensive schools) are schools either funded by the local government or by an academy trust. Students are usually offered a place if they live in the catchment area, attend a feeder primary school and/or have an older sibling already attending the school. You do not pay have to pay fees to attend a state school.

What is an independent school?

Independent schools (also known as private schools) are not funded by the government. They are either run by the owners of the school, or by a board of trustees. Instead, parents are required to pay termly fees.

To obtain a place, students usually need to take an entrance exam and attend a formal interview. Scholarships are sometimes available for students with significant academic talent, musical aptitude or sporting prowess.

In the UK, the term ‘public school’ is used for the most exclusive, prestigious – and expensive – independent schools such as Eton College or Harrow School.

What is a grammar school?

Grammar schools are state schools. They are funded by the government but they are selective schools, requiring students to take an entrance exam. Places are usually offered to students with the highest scores and/or those that live in the catchment area of the school. As they are non-fee-paying schools, places for grammar schools are extremely competitive.

Note: Some former grammar schools have changed to private schools but retained the word ‘grammar’ in their name. Check the school website if you are unsure of a school’s status.

KEY TERMS 2: Support and Assessment

To research potential grammar- and independent- schools, you will need some knowledge of the following terms:

​League Tables	Schools are judged on various measures and the results are published yearly in a league table. When you are deciding which school to apply for, it can be helpful to explore the league table to see how well the school has performed in recent years. There are two key focus areas for league tables: the % of children who have achieved 5+ Grades 4-9 (formally 5+A*-C) and a Progress 8 score. See below for more information.
5+ Grades 4-9	Grade 4 (on the new numerical system) is the equivalent of a low Grade C GCSE. Likewise, Grade 9 is the equivalent of – essentially – an A**. A Grade 4 GCSE is the expected grade and students should ideally achieve at least a Grade 4 in both English and Maths.
Progress 8	Progress 8 is a ‘value-added’ measure published every year which demonstrates the performance of a secondary school. This new measure was created to assess the progress of all students (not just the most academic) from their Year 6 SATs results/end-of-year exams to their GCSE results. A good school will have a Progress 8 score of +1 as this indicates that their students are making more progress than other children across the country.
Standard Attainment Tests (SATs)	SATs are taken in state primary schools – and some independent schools – at the end of Year 6. They assess how well children are performing in English and Maths as they complete their primary education.
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)	A GCSE is a formal qualification in a specific subject typically completed during KS4 (Years 10 and 11). Most students sit for 8 GCSEs, with some children completing more or less depending on individual circumstances.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)	Students with additional needs are usually placed on their school’s SEND register. A Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENDCO) is responsible for each child on the register. Children with more significant needs are given an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). If your child is on the SEND register – or has an EHCP – they may be entitled to extra time or other support for their entrance exams. Contact your primary school SENDCO for more information. In addition, some grammar schools have priority places for children with SEND. You can find out more about your chosen school by reading the Admissions Criteria.
Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)	Ofsted is a government-run assessment programme usually run by former headteachers and senior leaders. State schools are visited regularly and a group of inspectors will assess the performance of the school on multiple areas including progress, leadership and management, teaching and learning, etc. After each inspection, a school is given a grade of Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. The frequency of Oftsed inspections depends on the grading a school received on the last visit.
11+ Entrance Exams	​Students complete grammar school entrance exams between September-November of Year 6. Some schools have one stage of exams but the most selective schools often have two stages. Results are distributed during the autumn term. Independent school exams are usually between November-January of Year 6.
​Granada Learning (GL)	GL is one of the main providers for the 11+ exam. GL papers can cover English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning (VR) and Non-verbal reasoning (NVR). Not all schools opt to include all four subjects so you will need to check your chosen school for more detail about the format of the exam.
Selective Eligibility Test (SET)	Another exam format which includes questions on English, Maths and Reasoning. The participating SET schools are Greenshaw High School, Nonsuch High School for Girls, Sutton Grammar School, Wallington County Grammar School, Wallington High School for Girls and Wilson’s School.
Common Application Form (CAF)	The CAF is a local authority form that you need to complete for a state school place (including grammar schools). You will be expected to complete the CAF form in the autumn of Year 6. The deadline is 31st October. For independent schools, you need to apply directly to your chosen school.
National Offer Day	National Offer Day is the day when you find out which secondary school your child has been allocated a place to. You will receive your allocation in March of Year 6.