Abbreviations and acronyms
Glossary
ASTI Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland BEd Bachelor of Education CAO Central Applications Office CSPE Civic, social and political education DES Department of Education and Science EEC European Economic Community EMU Economic and Monetary Union ERC Education Research Centre ESS Environmental and social studies EU European Union FAS "Foras Aiseanna Sathair" - Training and Employment Authority GCSE General Certificate of Secondary Education (England) GDP Gross domestic product GNP Gross national product HDE Higher Diploma in Education HEA Higher Education Authority HEN Home Education Network HETAC Higher Education and Training Awards Council IBEC Irish Business and Employees Confederation ICT Information and communication technology ICTs Information and communication technologies ICTU Irish Congress of Trade Unions ILO International Labour Organisation IMF International Monetary Fund INTO Irish National Teachers' Organisation IT Information technology JCSP Junior Certificate School Programme LCA Leaving Certificate Applied LCVP Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme NCCA National Council for Curriculum and Assessment NCEA National Council for Educational Awards NCTE National Centre for Technology in Education NCVA National Council for Vocational Awards NEPS National Educational Psychological Service NEWB National Education Welfare Board NFER National Foundation for Educational Research in England and Wales NQAI National Qualifications Authority of Ireland OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development QCA Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (England) PE Physical education RE Religious education SEN Special educational needs SESE Social, environmental and scientific education SPHE Social, personal and health education TUI Teachers' Union of Ireland (post-primary) UK United Kingdom
Glossary
board(s) of management Established under the terms of the Education Act 1998, boards of management, usually comprising representatives of school owner(s), teachers and parents, have a duty to manage the school on behalf of the owner/patron and to the benefit of students and their parents. Boards of management are expected to provide an appropriate education for every student at the school, in accordance with any policies determined by the national Minister for Education and Science. community school(s) A form of second-level school catering for students aged 12+ to 17/18 years. Community schools are allocated individual budgets by the State. comprehensive school(s) A form of second-level school catering for students aged 12+ to 17/18 years. Comprehensive schools are allocated individual budgets by the State. first-level Primary education in Ireland (children aged 6-12) is often referred to as first-level education. (Many children start publicly-funded first-level education from age 4.) junior cycle The first three years of secondary education in Ireland (students aged 12-15), which are compulsory, are usually known as junior cycle education. Junior Certificate Taken on completion of junior cycle education (students aged around 15), the Junior Certificate examination, available in all subjects and at various levels, marks the end of compulsory education in Ireland. junior infants The term used to describe the class provided in state-funded primary schools for pre-school children, aged 4-5 lay principal(s) Principals or headteachers appointed, usually by open competition, to voluntary schools. Lay principals are appointed for life and are not necessarily members of religious orders. Leaving Certificate A two-year programme of studies in post-compulsory upper secondary education leads to the terminal Leaving Certificate examination. Entry to further or higher education institutions is determined by students' point scores in the Leaving Certificate. Students normally take the Leaving Certificate examination at age 17 or 18, after five or six years of post-primary education. Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) is a two-year programme of studies which leads to a terminal examination at age 17 or 18, after five or six years of post-primary education. Its primary objective is the preparation of participants for adult and working life through relevant learning experiences. Students study general (academic) subjects, vocational subjects and spend a proportion of their time in 'vocational preparation'. The LCA is intended to meet the needs of those students who either chose not to opt for other Leaving Certificate programmes or who are not adequately catered for by other Leaving Certificate programmes. Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) is the normal Leaving Certificate programme (see glossary definition above) with a concentration on technical subjects and some additions. The programme includes three 'link modules' on enterprise education, preparation for work, and work experience. Consequently, students taking the LCVP take five Leaving Certificate subjects, including two subjects chosen from a set of vocational subjects; a recognised course in a modern European language; and the three mandatory link modules. post-primary The term generally used in the Republic of Ireland to refer to secondary education. post-primary education The term generally used for all forms of secondary education, including junior cycle and senior cycle. post-primary school(s) The term generally used for all forms of second-level school (children aged 12+) in Ireland. principal(s) headteacher second-level A term used in Ireland to describe secondary/post-primary education (including junior cycle and senior cycle). second-level education A term used in Ireland to describe secondary/post-primary education (including junior cycle and senior cycle). senior cycle The term describes the two or three years of post-compulsory education in school (students aged 15-17/18), following the junior cycle. senior infants The term used to describe the class provided in state-funded primary schools for pre-school children, aged 5-6. special educational needs (SEN) The Education Act 1998 defines special educational needs as the educational needs of students who have a disability and the educational needs of exceptionally able students. third-level The term used in Ireland for the higher education sector, comprising the university sector, technological sector and colleges of education. third-level education The term used in Ireland for the higher education sector, comprising the university sector, technological sector and colleges of education. Transition Year An optional one-year programme in post-compulsory senior cycle second-level education. Where offered, the Transition Year is the first year following completion of compulsory education, students aged 15-16. On completion, students can follow a two-year Leaving Certificate course. vocational school(s) Second-level schools providing education for students aged 12+ to 17/18, which are administered by vocational education committees. Vocational schools are funded by up to 93 per cent of the total cost of provision. The balance is provided by receipts generated by the committees. voluntary school(s) These are privately owned schools, often Catholic, run by a board of management appointed by the trustees of the school. Voluntary schools can be either fee-paying (parents pay fees, but the State generally pays teachers' salaries) and non-fee-paying (parents do not pay fees and the State pays teachers' salaries).