Glossary
The sections below give explanations for terms commonly used on this site. Select the first letter of the term you're searching for.
Boarding provision
British Schools Overseas
Capacity
Chair of governors
Chair of local governing body
Chair of trustees
Chief financial officer
Children looked after
Children's centre
Children's centre collaboration
Children's centre group
Children's centre linked site
City technology colleges
Coasting
College
Community school
Community special school
Companies House number
With respect to GIAS they are visible for single academy trusts (SATs) and multi academy trusts (MATs) (group level) and for online providers only at establishment level.
DfE number
• The Department for Education number, the Department for Education no, the DfE no;
• the DfE establishment number, the DfE establishment no, the DfE estab number, the DfE estab no;
• the local authority establishment number, the local authority establishment no, the local authority estab number, the local authority estab no;
• the LA establishment number, the LA establishment no, the LA estab number, the LA estab no (however this is one part of the two components that make the DfE number – see below);
• the establishment number, the establishment no, the estab number, the estab no (however this is one part of the two components that make the DfE number – see below).
The DfE number is a concatenation of a 3 digit local authority number (the local authority that administers the establishment) and a 4 digit establishment number. This creates a 7 digit number. This number is issued by DfE to all local authority nurseries and compulsory school aged educational establishments, including further education colleges, that are recorded on Get Information about Schools (GIAS).
Diocese
Disadvantaged
- they are known to have been eligible for free school meals in the past 6 years (from year 6 to year 11), or
- they are recorded as having been looked after for at least one day, or
- they are recorded as having been adopted from care
English additional language
English first language
Establishment accreditation date
Establishment accreditation date ended
Establishment accredited
Establishment name
Establishment number
The establishment number is a 4 digit number.
The number is assigned by the DfE to all local authority nurseries and compulsory school aged educational establishments, including further education colleges, that are recorded on Get Information about Schools (GIAS).
This number is combined with the 3 digit local authority number to create the 7 digit DfE number.
Establishment status
Establishments
European schools
Faith school
Federation
Foundation school
Foundation special school
Free school
Free school meals
GID
Governor
Independent school
Independent special school
LAESTAB
Local authority number
The local authority number is a 3 digit number assigned to each local authority.
This number is combined with the 4 digit establishment number to create the 7 digit DfE number
Local authority nursery school
Local governor
Member
Middle deemed primary
Middle deemed secondary
Multi academy trust (MAT)
Name of setting
Non-maintained special school
Nursery provision
Online providers
Online providers offer a full curriculum and represent at least one child’s main source of education. Providers of online education may choose to become accredited under the online education accreditation scheme. To be eligible for the scheme, an online provider must registered with Companies House or the Charity Commission.
A ’provider’ refers to a provider of online education. This does not refer to a provider of education under the Education and Skills Act 2008 or any other relevant Act. Providers of online education services will often be commissioned services that hold responsibility for the delivery of education services only; other education providers, such as independent schools, may have additional responsibilities as a result of their operation from physical premises and the physical presence of pupils.
Primary school
In summary, it is a school for providing one or more of the following:
• part or full-time education aimed at children who are at least two years old but under compulsory school age;
• full-time education aimed at children of compulsory school age who are under 10½ years old;
• full-time education aimed at children of compulsory school age who are 10½ to 11 years old and are taught together with children under 10½.
Progress 8
Pupil referral unit
Quality assurance body
This is still to be confirmed.
Quality assurance report
Religious character
School sponsor
- the performance and finances of their school (or group of schools)
- setting up the academy trust
- selecting the governing body
- recruiting the headteacher
Sponsors work closely with the governing body to run the academy.
Secondary school
In summary, it is a school for providing one or more of the following:
• full-time education aimed at children of compulsory school age who are 10½ to 11 years old and are taught together with children aged 12 and above;
• full-time education aimed at children of compulsory school age who are at least 12 years old.
In some circumstances it can also include part-time education for pupils who are receiving the rest of their secondary education elsewhere, full-time education for pupils over compulsory school age but under 19, and education for pupils aged 19 or older who are finishing courses they started at the school before turning 19.
SEN support
Single academy trust (SAT)
In a single academy trust (SAT), one school becomes an academy, or two schools combine to form a single academy.
Sixth form college
Sixth form provision
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special measures
Special post–16 institutions
Sponsor
Studio school
Trustee
UKPRN
Unique Reference Number (URN)
University technical college
Pupils study academic subjects as well as practical subjects leading to technical qualifications. The curriculum is designed by the university and employers, who also provide work experience for students.
University technical colleges are sponsored by:
- universities
- employers
- further education colleges