Like any industry, there is a lot of jargon associated with education. Use our jargon buster to help you understand some of the acronyms and terms used on this website.

Applied GCSE
Vocational GCSE qualification.

BTEC
Business and Technology Education Council qualification.

Connexions
Information, advice and support service for all 13 to 19 year-olds.

Degree
A degree is any of a wide range of higher level awards, usually made by universities after the successful completion of an area of study.

DCSF
Department for Children, Schools and Families.

GCSE
General Certificate for Secondary Education (replaced GCE O levels and CSEs).

GNVQ
General National Vocational Qualification.

Higher education
Higher education is education provided by universities and other institutions that award academic degrees.

ICT
Information and communications technology (working with computers).

Key skills
The range of skills that are important for success in learning and work. Six skills are included - developing literacy, numeracy and ICT skills, plus team working, problem solving and planning personal development.

Key Stage 4
Ages 14 to 16.

LSC
Learning and Skills Council.

LSN
Learning and Skills Network.

NVQ
National Vocational Qualification.

OCR
Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examination Board.

Vocational
Work related learning.

Y9
Year 9 at school covering ages 13 to 14.

Y10 and 11
Years 10 and 11 at school covering ages 14 to 16.