A Level

A General Certificate of Education (GCE) A Level is a single subject Level 3 qualification typically taken at age 18 after two years of post-16 study. Students typically take A Levels in 3+ subjects. A Levels are graded A* to E, where A* is the highest grade (U is unclassified). Reformed A Levels specifically designed for Northern Ireland were introduced between September 2015 and 2017. They are provided by the CCEA Awarding Organisation and regulated by CCEA Regulation. They consist of AS and A2 units, with the AS taken after one year of study and contributing 40% of the total marks for that subjects.

A2

For some A Levels in Northern Ireland, the A2 is the second part of the full A Level qualification.

Access to Higher Education Diploma

The Access to Higher Education Diploma is designed to meet the needs of individuals returning to higher education study after some time and who may lack formal qualifications. Courses are available in a range of subjects, such as social and life science, humanities and business management. The diplomas are typically delivered by a further education college as a one-year full-time programme.

Alternative provider (AP)

An alternative provider (AP) is a provider of higher education that is not funded by regular government grants. APs can be for-profit or not-for-profit, and of any corporate form.

AS Level

A General Certificate of Education (GCE) AS Level is a Level 3 single subject qualification typically taken at age 17 after one year of study. AS Levels designed for the Northern Ireland market can be a standalone qualifications or, when followed by a further year of study, can contribute towards the award of an A Level. They are provided by the CCEA Awarding Organisation and regulated by CCEA Regulation. AS Levels are graded A to E, where A is the highest possible grade (U is unclassified).

Awarding organisation

An awarding organisation is a body recognised by the qualifications regulator (the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment)for the purpose of developing and awarding qualifications recognising learner achievements. Awarding organisations providing general (academic, rather than vocational) qualifications are often known as exam boards.

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor’s degree is a first cycle higher education qualification at Level 6 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ).

Board of governors

A board of governors is a corporate body set up by law to govern a grant-aided school. It is made up of parent and teacher members, members who represent the origins or owners of the school and members from the general public with an interest in education. It has three core functions: setting the school's vision, ethos and strategic direction; holding the headteacher to account; and overseeing financial performance. The term board of governors is also used to refer to the accountable body for other education providers, which may take various constitutional forms.

Catholic maintained school

See maintained school.

Centre

A centre, sometimes known as an examination centre, conducts examinations and assessments on behalf of an awarding organisation. In most instances, centres are schools and colleges, although they may also be training providers, adult education centres, offender learning units or employers.

Class (of degree)

The class of a degree refers to the grade awarded to a bachelor’s degree. There are four points on the scale: first class; second class, which is subdivided into upper second and lower second; and third class. A bachelor’s degree may also be awarded without honours in which case it is not classified.

Collective worship

An act of collective worship is an act of a reverential or reflective nature that schools are required to provide on a daily basis.

Controlled integrated school

A controlled integrated school is a type of grant-aided school. Controlled integrated schools educate Protestant and Catholic children together, alongside children of other faiths and none. Controlled integrated schools are managed by a board of governors.  The Education Authority is the employing authority for the staff and the funding authority for capital and revenue (recurrent) expenditure.

Controlled school

A controlled school is a type of grant-aided school. Controlled schools mainly educate Protestant children. Controlled schools are managed by a board of governors.  The Education Authority is the employing authority for the staff and the funding authority for capital and revenue (recurrent) expenditure.

Criminal record check

A criminal record check is a service provided by AccessNI to help employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children.

Day nursery

A day nursery is a centre based setting which provides daycare for children aged from six weeks to five years old. Day nurseries are registered by Health and Social Care Trusts. They are usually privately run and charge fees to parents, but can participate in the Department of Education-funded Pre-School Education Programme which is intended to provide at least one year of funded part-time pre-school education.

Degree Awarding Powers (DAP)

Degree-awarding powers (DAP) are the powers held by a university or other body legally approved to award UK degrees. There are different types of DAP:

1. foundation degree awarding powers (FDAP)

2. taught degree awarding powers (TDAP), which allow institutions to award bachelor’s degrees and taught master’s degrees

3. research degree awarding powers (RDAP), which allow institutions to award research master’s degrees and doctorates.

Devolved administration (DA)

Devolved administration (DA) is a term used to refer to the executive formed by one of the devolved legislatures within the UK: the Welsh Assembly, Scottish Parliament or Northern Ireland Assembly. In all cases, the UK Parliament remains sovereign, and retains the power to amend the devolution Acts or to legislate on any matters that have been devolved. That said, the UK Government will not normally introduce legislation on a devolved matter without the consent of the devolved legislature. England has no devolved legislature or administration.

Directed time

Directed time is the time when, in accordance with the Teachers’ Terms and Conditions of Employment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, a teacher must be available to carry out duties at the direction of the principal. Directed time is up to 1265 hours in a school year.

Doctorate

A doctorate is a third-cycle higher education qualification at Level 8 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ). The degree of Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated to PhD (or DPhil in some universities), is awarded for the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, or application of existing knowledge in a new way, at the forefront of an academic discipline, usually through original research. The New Route PhD or integrated PhD combines research with a structured programme of training in research methods and transferable professional skills.

Education and Library Board (ELB)

The five Education and Library Boards (ELBs) were local authorities with responsibility for education, including pre-school, primary and secondary education, youth services and information services. They were replaced on 1 April 2015 by the Education Authority.

Education other than at school (EOTAS)

Education other than at school (EOTAS) refers to all forms of education that take place outside of the formal school environment for children with social, emotional behavioural, medical or other issues who cannot otherwise access suitable education. It allows children who have been expelled from, suspended from, or have otherwise disengaged from, their registered school to maintain their education until compulsory school leaving age (16), or to participate in education until they achieve a new school place, or are prepared for re-entry to an existing school place.

Employing authority

The employing authority is the body that holds contracts of employment for teachers at a school. Depending on the type of school, the employing authority can be the Education Authority, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) or theboard of governorsof the individual school.

Entry level

Entry Level is a level on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), which groups qualifications by level from Entry Level to Level 8, based on their difficulty. Entry Level is further subdivided into Entry 1, 2 and 3 to support learners who have basic skills needs. Examples of qualifications at Entry Level are: Entry Level Award, Certificate and Diploma; Entry Level Essential Skills.

Expulsion

Expulsion is the permanent banning of a pupil from school on disciplinary grounds. If the pupil is banned for a fixed term, this is known as ‘suspension’.

Foundation degree

A foundation degree is a short-cycle higher education qualification at Level 5 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ). Foundation degrees are designed with a particular area of work in mind, and are developed with the help of employers from that sector. They aim to equip students with the relevant knowledge and skills for business and cover a wide range of subjects, from engineering to e-commerce and health and social care. They are predominantly delivered through partnerships of further and higher education institutions.

Foundation Stage

The Foundation Stage is the first of the five key stages into which the Northern Ireland Curriculum is divided. It caters for children in Years 1 and 2 of primary education, ages four to six.

Free school meals (FSM)

Free School Meals (FSM) are a statutory benefit available to children from families who receive other qualifying state benefits. Eligibility for free school meals is used as a proxy measure of deprivation. 

Further education (FE)

Further education (FE) is education for people over the age of full-time compulsory education (16 years) which does not take place in a secondary school. It is often vocational but also includes general (academic) programmes.

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)

A General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is a single subject qualification typically taken at age 16 after two years of study in Key Stage 4. Students typically take GCSEs in 8+ subjects. Higher grades are Level 2 qualifications and lower grades are Level 1. GCSEs designed specifically for the Northern Irish market, introduced in 2017, are graded A* to G, where A* is the highest grade. They are provided by the CCEA Awarding Organisation and regulated by CCEA Regulation.

Graduate

A graduate is a person who holds a bachelor's or higher degree. Graduation is the formal conferment of this award. The term is not generally used to describe successful completion of lower levels of education.

Grammar school

A grammar school is a post-primary school which historically had the ability to charge fees, or a school which is designated by the Department of Education as a grammar school. The legal definition of a grammar school is not linked to its admissions criteria. However, the majority of grammar schools select their pupils using academic criteria and the term is often used to denote a school that uses academic selection.  Since 2009, the Department of Education has recommended that post-primary schools should not select their pupils using academic criteria. However, schools are not prohibited from selecting pupils on this basis and many schools continue to do so. Grammar schools include voluntary grammar schools (under either Catholic or non-denominational management) and controlled grammar schools.

Grant-aided

A grant-aided school is a publicly funded school. Grant-aided schools include different legal categories, including controlled schools, controlled integrated schools, maintained schools, voluntary grammar schools, grant-maintained integrated schools and Irish-medium schools.

Grant-maintained integrated school

A grant-maintained integrated school is a type of grant-aided school with integrated status, educating Protestant and Catholic children together, alongside children of other faiths and none. The board of governors is the employing authority. A grant-maintained integrated school is funded for revenue by the Education Authority and for capital by the Department of Education.

Guided learning hours (GLH)

Guided learning hours (GLH) is an expression of the size of a regulated or approved qualification. Guided learning is defined as time when staff are present to give specific advice towards a learning aim being studied. This can include classes, lectures, tutorials and supervised study. CCEA Regulation requires that the qualifications it regulates are assigned a value for GLH. GLH can also be combined with an estimate of the time a learner will spend in preparation, study and assessment to provide Total Qualification Time (TQT).

Higher degree

A higher degree is a degree above bachelor's level such as a master's degree or doctorate.

Higher education (HE)

Higher education (HE) is defined in Schedule 7 of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, as applied by Article 30 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 as: ‘education provided by means of a course of a standard higher than the standard of courses leading to GCE A Level or Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) National Diploma or Certificate’. This definition embraces Levels 4 to 8 within the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ) including short-cycle qualifications below the level of a bachelor’s degree.

Higher National Diploma (HND)

A Higher National Diploma (HND) is a vocational higher education qualification designed to teach the skills required in a particular area of work. HNDs are at Level 5 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ) and typically take two years of full-time study to complete.

Home education

Home education, sometimes referred to as 'elective home education', is the term used to describe education provided by parents who choose to educate their child at home instead of sending him / her to school.

Honours degree

An honours degree is a bachelor's degree awarded with honours. Most bachelor’s degrees are awarded with honours. A bachelor’s degree awarded without honours is known as a pass degree or ordinary degree.

Independent school

An independent school is a school that offers full-time education for pupils of compulsory school age (whether or not such education is already provided for pupils over or under that age) and which is not grant-aided. Independent schools are commonly known as ‘private schools’.

Induction

ISCED

The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) was developed by UNESCO to facilitate comparisons of education statistics and indicators across countries on the basis of uniform and internationally agreed definitions. It was revised in 1997 and 2011. ISCED is the organising framework used for Eurydice system descriptions and comparative studies. To see how this framework applies to education in Northern Ireland, see the overview.

Key stage

A key stage is one of the five stages or blocks of years into which the Northern Ireland Curriculum is divided. The five key stages are defined according to the age of the majority of the pupils in a teaching group. They are:

• Foundation Stage for ages 4-6
• Key Stage 1 for ages 6-8
• Key Stage 2 for ages 8-11
• Key Stage 3 for ages 11-14
• Key Stage 4 for ages 14-16.

Learning support centre (LSC)

A learning support centre (LSC) is a Department of Education-approved centre attached to a mainstream school which provides education for pupils with special educational needs (SEN). LSCs  are managed by the mainstream school to which they are attached and enable pupils to be supported in a mainstream setting within a local community. Typically, LSCs cater for a small group of children at a specific key stage and support a range of SEN.

Lecturer

A lecturer is a member of the academic staff at a higher education institution. A lecturer holds teaching and administrative responsibilities and undertakes their own research.

Level

Level 1

General and vocational qualifications are grouped into levels, from Entry Level to Level 8. Qualifications at the same level are similar in terms of their difficulty, but their size and content can vary. Examples of qualifications at Level 1 on the RQF are: GCSE (grades D-G); BTEC Award, Certificate and Diploma.

Level 2

General and vocational qualifications are grouped into levels, from Entry Level to Level 8. Qualifications at the same level are similar in terms of their difficulty, but their size and content can vary. Examples of qualifications at Level 2 on the RQF are: GCSE (grades A*-C); NVQ Level 2; BTEC Award, Certificate and Diploma Level 2; Functional Skills Level 2.

Level 3

General and vocational qualifications are grouped into levels, from Entry Level to Level 8. Qualifications at the same level are similar in terms of their difficulty, but their size and content can vary. Examples of qualifications at Level 3 on the RQF are: AS and A Level; BTEC Award, Certificate and Diploma Level 3.

Level 4

General and vocational qualifications are grouped into levels, from Entry Level to Level 8. Qualifications at the same level are similar in terms of their difficulty, but their size and content can vary. Examples of qualifications at Level 4 on the RQF are: Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education; BTEC Professional Award, Certificate and Diploma Level 4.

Level 5

General and vocational qualifications are grouped into levels, from Entry Level to Level 8. Qualifications at the same level are similar in terms of their difficulty, but their size and content can vary. Examples of qualifications at Level 5 on the RQF are: HND; Foundation degree.

Level 6

General and vocational qualifications are grouped into levels, from Entry Level to Level 8. Qualifications at the same level are similar in terms of their difficulty, but the size and content can vary. Examples of qualifications at Level 6 on the RQF are: bachelor’s degree; Level 6 Award, Certificate and Diploma.

Level 7

General and vocational qualifications are grouped into levels, from Entry Level to Level 8. Qualifications at the same level are similar in terms of their difficulty, but their size and content can vary. Examples of qualifications at Level 7 on the RQF are:master’s degree; Level 7 Award, Certificate and Diploma.

Level 8

General and vocational qualifications are grouped into levels, from Entry Level to Level 8. Qualifications at the same level are similar in terms of their difficulty, but their size and content can vary. Examples of qualifications at Level 8 on the RQF are: doctorate; Level 8 Award, Certificate and Diploma.

Levels of progression (LoP)

Levels of progression (LoP) relate to the cross-curricular skills of communication, using mathematics and using ICT of the Northern Ireland Curriculum. They are a series of ‘can do’ statements representing a continuum of skills that pupils should be able to demonstrate if they are to build the literacy, numeracy and ICT skills needed to function effectively in life and the world of work. There are seven levels of progression. By the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 4, age 8), pupils are expected to be performing at level 2; by the end of Key Stage 2, age 11, at level 3; and by the end of Key Stage 3, age 14, at level 5.

Linear qualification

A linear qualification is one which is designed to be assessed at the end of the programme. Linear qualifications can be contrasted with modular qualifications, in which learning is broken down into units or modules designed to be assessed separately.

Looked after child (LAC)

A looked after child (LAC), under the terms of The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, is a child who is in the care of the local authority. Looked after children include children who are accommodated by the local authority under a voluntary agreement with their parents; children who are the subject of a care order; and children who are the subject of an emergency order for their protection.

Maintained school

A maintained school is a type of grant-aided school. Most are Catholic maintained, owned by the Catholic Church and educate mainly Catholic children. Maintained schools that are not Catholic maintained are often referred to as ‘other maintained’. Most Irish-medium schools fall into this category. Maintained schools are fully funded for revenue (recurrent) expenditure by the Education Authority, but also receive capital funding direct from the Department of Education (DE). For Catholic maintained schools, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) is the employing authority.

Master's degree

A master’s degree is a second cycle higher education qualification at Level 7 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ). Master’s degrees, such as MSc and MA, are awarded after completion of taught courses or programmes of research, or a combination of both.

Modular qualification

National Qualifications Framework (NQF)

National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)

Postgraduate

Professor

Reader

Substitute teacher

Teaching fellow

A teaching fellow is a member of the academic staff at a higher education institution. A teaching fellow may have the same teaching and administrative duties as a lecturer, but does not necessarily undertake research.

1. Guided learning hours (GLH)
2. An estimate of the number of hours a learner will spend in preparation, study and assessment.

CCEA Regulation requires that the qualifications it regulates are assigned a value for TQT.

Undergraduate

An undergraduate is a higher education student who has not yet taken a first degree. Undergraduate programmes include bachelor's degrees and foundation degrees.

University

The right to use the title 'university' is regulated by law. There are two universities in Northern Ireland and two university colleges, plus the Open University in Northern Ireland.

University college

The right to use the title 'university college' is protected by law. There are two university colleges in Northern Ireland (alongside two universities and the Open University in Northern Ireland).

Validation

In the higher education context, a validation relationship occurs when a degree-awarding provider assesses a course delivered by another provider and approves it as being of an appropriate standard and quality to contribute, or lead, to one of the degree-awarding provider’s awards. Students normally have a direct contractual relationship with the provider delivering the course, not the institution that validated it.

Vice-Chancellor

A Vice-Chancellor is the lead academic and administrative officer at a university. The Vice-Chancellor’s main responsibilities include providing leadership, representing the university externally, ensuring that the university has a secure financial base, and carrying out certain ceremonial duties.

Voluntary grammar school

A voluntary grammar school is a type of grant-aided school. A voluntary grammar school is owned by trustees or the school’s founding body which may be either Roman Catholic or non-denominational. The board of governors is the employing authority. A voluntary grammar school is funded for revenue by the Education Authority and for capital by the Department of Education, but some contribute towards capital costs.

Article last reviewed October 2019.