Recruitment and Training in Brighton and Hove:Future Workforce: Glossary

Glossary - General terms, abbreviations and what they mean

Term	Acronym	Definition
Adult Learning Grant	ALG	The Adult Learning Grant allows people to receive up to £30 a week while studying for 12 hours or more a week. The ALG is available for both vocational and academic courses. Call 0800 100 900 for more information and to check eligibility.
Advanced/Advanced Supplementary level qualifications	A/AS	A levels have now been split into two. In Year 12 (the first year of 6th form) students take AS qualifications (Advanced Subsidiary) which are like half an A level. In Year 13 they then convert a fewer number of AS levels into full A levels by adding a second part called A2. This means that an AS level can form the first half of a full A level, or it can be a qualification on its own. Final assessment is based on coursework and end of course tests which determine the grasp of the subject as a whole.
Accreditation of Prior Learning	APL	Taking into account what a person has done before when assessing qualifications.
Action For Business Skills	A4BS	A Government inspired initiative to encourage colleges and other training providers to be responsive to the needs of business.
Adult & Community Learning	ACL	The services provided by colleges and other providers that are for adults and people in the community. Adult education and evening classes are part of this.
Applied GCSE	AGCSE	The vocational version of a standard GCSE - it is normally worth the equivalent of two standard GCSEs and is intended to have a strong vocational element emphasising a knowledge of the workplace and an understanding of how skills and knowledge will be applied in real situations
Brighton & Hove Learning Partnership	BHLP	A local organisation that brings together all the key partners in training and education in the City
Business & Technician Education Council	BTEC	One of many organisations known as Awarding Bodies that oversee the awarding of qualifications and the organisations that they deliver them e.g. colleges. BTEC has become synonymous with its 'First', 'National' and Higher National' qualifications which will be familiar to many businesses
Business Link		Regionally based, government funded (DTI) organisation tasked with providing business support to small and medium sized businesses in England.
Career Development Loan	CDL	A Career Development Loan can help people gain the experience, training and qualifications they need to improve their job skills or even launch a new career. It can be used to fund a variety of courses with a wide range of organisations, so people are able to choose the course that best suits their needs. People are eligible for a CDL if they are employed, self-employed or unemployed.
City College Brighton and Hove	CCBH	The largest educational and training establishment in the Brighton and Hove area
Connexions	Cxs	Connexions is a government support service for young people, the goal of which is to ensure success through learning and a smooth transition to adulthood and working life for every young person. Working alongside its partners, Connexions must provide teenagers with (or connect them to) the support they need to benefit fully from formal and informal learning. This may involve tackling barriers to learning, advice on career and learning goals (Connexions assumes the role of the careers service) or challenging aspirations and stereotypes
Connexions Personal Adviser	PA	Advisers who provide continuing 1:1 support for young people who are at risk of disengaging from learning.
Continuous Professional Development	CPD	A term describing the constant analysis and updating of an individual's training needs
CYPT	Children's and Young People's Trust	The CYPT brings together education, health and social care for all 0-19-year-olds (and up to 25 years for those with special needs). It works in partnership with other health services as well as community and voluntary organisations in the City of Brighton & Hove.
Department for Children Schools and Families	DCFS	This new Government department focuses on raising educational standards so that more children and young people reach expected levels, lifting more children out of poverty and re-engaging disaffected young people. www.dcsf.gov.uk
Department of Innovation Universities and Skills	DIUS	This new Government department brings together functions from two former departments. Science and innovation responsibilities from the Department of Trade and Industry. Skills, further and higher education from the Department for Education and Skills. www.dius.gov.uk
Diplomas		New qualifications for 14 to 19 year-olds in England. These present another, more vocational option, to consider alongside GCSEs, A-levels and apprenticeships. It doesn't replace these qualifications, instead it's anticipated that students will take a combination of qualifications that suits them best. It will also be able to take a GCSE or A-level as part of the diploma course. They will generally take two years to complete, but it could be shorter or longer depending on the learner's situation.
Disability Discrimination Act	DDA	Recent legislation laying out the rights of the disabled and the duties upon employers
Diversity		The differences in the values, attitudes, cultural perspective, beliefs, ethnic background, sexual orientation, ability or disability, skills, knowledge and life experiences of each individual in any group of people. Valuing diversity refers to demonstrably valuing diverse employees, clients and customers by having policies that take into account their diverse needs and preferences
Education Business Link	EBL	Activities that link employers in with training and education activities e.g. employers that allow school pupils to visit their premises to find out how the business works
Education Business Partnership	EBP	Organisations that promote Education Business Links. There is one in Brighton and Hove.
Education Maintenance Allowance	EMA	Monies paid by the Government to young people in education and training where household incomes are below certain threshholds
English as an Additional Language	EAL	Educational term for puplis for whom English is not their main language.
English for Speakers of Other Languages	ESOL	English language courses aimed at non-native English speakers
Entry to Employment	E2E	A national Government-funded training programme for young people who need further support before taking up Apprenticeship training, Further Education or Employment.
European Social Fund	ESF	A fund designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union, it will provide about £3.5 billion in England from 2000 - 2006. The ESF aims to: help unemployed and inactive people enter work; provide opportunities for people at a disadvantage in the labour market; promote lifelong learning; develop the skills of employed people; improve women's participation in the labour market.
Foundation Degree	FD	Higher education with a vocational focus offering degrees in specific occupational disciplines e.g. Hospitality. Courses can be full time at college or work-based. More information can be found at www.foundation-degrees-in-sussex.com
Functional Skills		A new approach to the basic skills that everyone needs in working life. Functional skills are practical skills in English, mathematics, and information and communication technology (ICT) that allow individuals to work confidently, effectively and independently in life.The emphasis of functional skills is being able to use these skills in applied rather than theoretical situations. These skills are now breing incorporated into the 14-19 curriculum in schools and colleges.
Further Education	FE	A term that more recently has come to encompass all training and education funded by Government e.g. college courses, Apprenticeships etc
General Certificate of Secondary Education	GCSE	Examination usually taken at the end of compulsory schooling in England and Wales, replaced 'O' Levels some time ago
Health & Safety Executive	HSE	Organisation charged with the governmental responsibility to provide legislation, enforcement, and guidance where it relates to issues of health and safety in the workplace.
Higher Education	HE	Education at degree level or above.
Higher Education Funding Council for England	HEFCE	HEFCE distributes public money for teaching and research to universities and colleges. The Council also plays a key role in ensuring accountability and promoting good practice.
Higher Education Institution	HEI	A university, school or college offering degree-level or postgraduate education.
Higher National Certificate/Diploma	HNC/HND	BTEC qualifications at degree level in vocational subjects now being largely superseded by Foundation Degrees.
Increased Flexibility Programme	IFP	A new training programme that allows young people to learn at a college and/or at work in their last 2 years at school.
Initial Advice and Guidance	IAG	Services that promote the benefits of learning, help individuals to address and overcome the barriers to learning and support them in making realistic and well informed choices e.g. services provided by Connexions Sussex Careers.
Investors in People	IIP	A national standard promoted by the Government that measures the extent to which an organisation values its staff and the skills they need to successfully impact on the well being of the business, its employees and its customers.
Job Centre Plus	JCP	Government funded organisation that provides help and advice on jobs and training for people who can work and financial help for those who cannot. Most closely associated with its national network of Job Centre outlets.
Key Stage	KS	A child's progress through school is measured in Key Stages. Each Key Stage covers a number of school years. Starting at Key Stage 1 and finishing at Key Stage 4. Key Stage 1 = Infant School (3-7 years), Key Stage 2 = Junior School (7-11 years), Key Stage 3 = Lower Secondary School (12-13 years), Key Stage 4 = Upper Secondary School (14-16 years).
Learndirect	LD	A free national advice telephone line which offers information on adult education and courses whatever the person wants to study and wherever they live
Learning and Skills Council	LSC	Government organisation responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.
Local Authority	LA	Administrative organisations of local government. Brighton and Hove City Council covers the local area.
Local Education Authority	LEA	The Education Department of the Local Authority responsible for schools.
National Curriculum	NC	Provides a clear statement of what school age pupils should be taught in state maintained schools. It provides a balanced education for a child covering 11 subjects overall, and is divided into four Key Stages according to age.
National Vocational Qualifications	NVQ	Qualifications in particular occupations and job roles that are only achieved when a person has demonstrated their competence against the industry specified standards
Not In Education & Training	NEET	A term referring to those young people aged 16-19 that are not engaged in any form of employment, training and education. The Connexions service has targets to reduce this number to a minimum for the benefit of individuals themselves, society and the economy.
Office For Standards in Education	OFSTED	An official body which regularly inspects all the schools in England which are mainly or wholly state funded. OFSTED inspectors produce education reports which are meant to improve standards of achievement and quality of education, provide public reporting and informed independent advice.
Personal Learning and Thinking Skills	PTLS	These are the essential skills that enable young people to enter work and adult life in a confident and capable manner. Together with the functional skills of English, Maths and IT are the skills associated with managing self, managing relationships with others and managing own learning and performance at work. These skills are now breing incorporated into the 14-19 curriculum in schools and colleges.
Personal, Social & Health Education	PSHE	Part of the National Curriculum for school age children PSHE includes everything schools do to promote pupils' good health and well-being.
Qualifications & Curriculum Authority	QCA	Organisation that maintains and develops the National Curriculum and associated assessments, tests and examinations. Also accredits and monitors qualifications delivered in colleges and at work.
Regional Development Agency	RDA	Government backed organisation whose primary role is to strategically drive regional economic development. Established under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, they are non departmental bodies funded by Government through the Department of Trade and Industry.
Sector Skills Council	SSC	Independent, industry lead, UK wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance and licenced by the Sectors Skills Development Agency (SSDA). SSCs are not public agencies but are in receipt of limited public funds. However, they have a key role in influencing where public investment in training and education for the sector is made.
Sector Skills Development Agency	SSDA	A non-departmental government body with a UK-wide remit formed on 1 April 2002. The SSDA's primary function is to improve the productivity of UK plc by tackling skills gaps and deficiencies through the development and funding of a network of employer-led Sector Skills Councils (SSCs).
Skills For Life	SFL	A general term usually referring to literacy, language and numeracy skills.
Small and Medium Sized Enterprise	SME	Usually taken to refer to businesses employing up to 199 employees
Small Business Service	SBS	A Government agency aiming to provide straightforward business information and access to a wide network of business support.
South East England Development Agency	SEEDA	SEEDA is the Government funded agency set up in 1999 responsible for the economic and social development of the South East of England. SEEDA's aim is to create a prosperous, dynamic and inspirational region by helping businesses compete more effectively, training a highly skilled workforce, supporting and enabling communities, while safeguarding natural resources and cherishing rich cultural heritage.
Special Educational Needs	SEN	Term referring to people who need additional support in order for them to be successful in their education.
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator	SENCO	The teacher in school with responsibility for the delivery of services for children with special educational needs.
Sussex Council of Training Providers	SCTP	Sussex based membership organisation that represents training organisations of all types that deliver Apprenticeships and Entry to Employment programmes.
Sussex Education Employer Network	SEEN
Training Needs Analysis	TNA	A breakdown of the skills objectives of an individual to achieve a desired standard.
Train To Gain	T2G	The Learning and Skills Council’s Train to Gain service provides impartial, independent advice on training to businesses across England. It can help businesses improve their productivity and competitiveness by ensuring that employees have the right skills to do the best job. Train to Gain gives you access to a Skills Broker who will carry out a needs analysis of training within your business and help you assess what skills your business has now and what you will need in the future. Some funding to support the training may also be available.
University & Colleges Admissions Service	UCAS	Organisation that manages the student applications process for Higher Education
University for Industry	UFI	Organisation that aims to put individuals in a better position to get jobs, improve their careers and boost business competitiveness. Delivers its services through learndirect which offers course information, many online courses, and operates 2000 learning centres.
Vocational Education & Training	VET	General term for any training and education that relates to employment and skills
Vocational Learning		Structured programs of practical learning designed to develop occupation skills. Sometimes described as practice based.
Work Based Learning	WBL	General term for skills training that happens predominantly in the work place
Work Related Learning	WRL	Learning that is relevant to a work environment.
Workforce Development	WFD	General term for the process of training and developing employees
Years 1 to 13		The way year groups are divided in English schools, from nursery through to sixth form: Reception year: 4/5 year olds Year 1: 5/6-year-olds; Year 2: 6/7-year-olds; Year 3: 7/8-year-olds; Year 4: 8/9-year-olds; Year 5: 9/10-year-olds; Year 6: 10/11-year-olds; Year 7: 11/12-year-olds; Year 8: 12/13-year-olds; Year 9: 13/14-year-olds; Year 10: 14/15-year-olds; Year 11: 15/16-year-olds; Year 12: 16/17-year-olds; Year 13: 17/18-year-olds
Young Apprenticeship	YA	New Government funded training programme that allows young people to start an Apprenticeship in their last 2 years of compulsory education.
Youth Offending Team	YOT	Part of Local Authority provision Youth Offending Teams identify the needs of young offenders by assessing them with a national assessment. It identifies the specific problems that make the young person offend as well as measuring the risk they pose to others. This enables the YOT to identify suitable programmes to address the needs of the young person with the intention of preventing further offending.