NGA has produced this glossary to help governors and trustees navigate the specialist terms and abbreviations of the education world. You can download a copy of the glossary or browse and search for specific terms below.
Download a printable version of the glossary (PDF)
A level
General Certificate of Education Advanced level – usually completed by some 16-18 year-olds after GCSE
Academy
Academies are publicly funded independent schools. Academies have different governance arrangements from other schools (such as local authority-maintained schools)
Academy committee
The body to which trustees delegate local governance functions. NGA refers to these bodies as academy committees, but they are often called local governing bodies (LGBs), academy councils or similar
Academy converter
A school which converted to academy status voluntarily (usually high performing at the time of conversion), having previously been a local authority maintained school
Academy sponsor led
A school which converted to academy status with the support of a sponsor (usually lower performing at the time of conversion)
Admissions Code
A document providing statutory guidance on school admissions with which all schools must comply
Articles of Association
The formal governing document for an academy that sets out its rules for operating, including the composition of the governing board
ASP
Analyse School Performance – a new service, providing schools and other existing user groups with detailed performance analysis to support local school improvement as a replacement for RAISEonline
Associate members
Individuals appointed by the governing body of a maintained school. They are not part of the governing body, but are allowed to attend meetings and sit on committees and can be given voting powers. They are appointed for 1-4 years, with the opportunity for re-appointment. An associate member could be a pupil, member of staff or someone with expertise in a particular area. Academies’ articles of association allow them to appoint non-governors to committees and give them voting rights
ATH - Academt Trust Handbook
A handbook issued by the ESFA that sets out the management and governance requirements that apply to all academy trusts. (Formerly Academies Financial Handbook)