| Term | Description of Term | Link: |
| ACCS | The Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools | http://www.accs.ie/ |
| Admission | Process of being allowed to enter a school or college/university | |
| Ancillary Staff | Referring to school staff providing non-teaching services - e.g. secretarial and caretaking work | |
| Arbitration | The resolution of disputes by an independent third party | |
| ASD | Autistic Spectrum Disorders | |
| ASTI | Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland | www.asti.ie |
| ATECI | Association of Teachers' Education Centres in Ireland | http://www.ateci.ie/ |
| Bachelor degree | Degree awarded on successful completion of under-graduate degree course | |
| Board of Management | The Board of Management governs the school on behalf of the patron and for the benefit of students. It includes representatives of parents, teachers, trustees or patron, the principal and the community. | |
| BOM | see Board of Management | |
| Breaking the Cycle | Project which seeks to discriminate positively in favour of schools in selected urban and rural areas which have high concentrations of children who are at risk of not reaching their potential in the education system. | |
| BTC | see Breaking the Cycle | |
| BTEI | Back To Education Initiative | |
| Capitation | Capitation grants are paid to primary and post primary schools to assist with general running costs. They are based on the number of recognised pupils enrolled in the schools. | |
| CAO | Central Applications Office: This centre processes applications from school leavers to first year undergraduate courses. | http://www.cao.ie/ |
| Catchment Area | Geographical area served by a school. | |
| CEDEFOP | European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training | http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/ |
| Children Detention Schools | A school at which a child can be ordered to be detained by a court | http://www.dcya.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=%2Fdocuments%2FYouthJustice%2Fdetentionmenu.htm |
| CID | Contract of Indefinite Duration. If a person holds a position for 4 years or more in a temporary capacity under the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003, s/he is entitled to a Contract of Indefinite Duration (CID). | |
| Community School | Community schools are managed by Boards of Management representative of local interests. These schools offer a broad curriculum embracing both practical and academic subjects. | http://www.accs.ie/ |
| Comprehensive School | Comprehensive schools combine academic and vocational subjects in a wide curriculum. They are managed by a Board of Management representative of the diocesan religious authority, the Vocational Education Committee of the area and the Minister for Education and Skills. | http://www.accs.ie/ |
| Co-educational | Referring to schools attended by both sexes | |
| Cost Neutral Early Retirement | Retirement option that allows personnel to retire early with immediate payment of superannuation benefits | |
| CPD | Continuing Personal Development | |
| CPSM | Catholic Primary School Management Association | http://www.cpsma.ie/ |
| Croke Park | Refers to the changes proposed by the Department and the education sector to achieve efficiencies and savings under the Croke Park Agreement | |
| Curriculum | Set of subjects, programmes and activities delivered by a school | http://www.ncca.ie/ |
| Data Protection | Data protection is concerned with the protection of your fundamental right to privacy, and your right to exercise control over how your personal information is used | |
| DEIS | see Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools | |
| Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) | Action Plan for Educational Inclusion - policy instrument to address educational disadvantage | |
| Denominational School | Refers to school managed by religious bodies | |
| Devolved | Refers to the delegation of responsibility to school/college e.g. in relation to a construction project | |
| Disadvantage (Educational) | Impediments to education due to social or economic disadvantage which prevent students from deriving appropriate benefit from education in schools | |
| EAS | Employee Assistance Service | |
| ELA | English Language Assistant | |
| EPV (Extra Personal Vacation) | Leave available to teachers to attend summer courses | |
| Erasmus | EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students -education and training programme enabling students to study and work abroad | http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc80_en.htm |
| Esinet | Esinet is the secure method of transferring the October Returns files to the Department. | www.esinet.ie |
| EUROSTAT | Statistical office of the European Union | http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/eurostat/home |
| Eurydice | The Eurydice Network provides information on and analyses of European education systems and policies | http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/index_en.php |
| Exemption | Refers particularly to sanction granted to opt-out of studying Irish at primary or post-primary level in certain limited circumstances | |
| FETAC | see Further Education and Training Awards Council | http://www.fetac.ie/fetac/ |
| FOI | see Freedom of Information | |
| Force Majeure | Leave which is indispensably required owing to an injury or illness of a close family member. | |
| Freedom of Information | Relates to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 (amended 2003). This Act allows access to records held by government departments and certain public bodies. | |
| FT | Fixed-term | |
| Further Education | Further Education covers education and training which occurs after second level schooling but which is not part of the third level system. | |
| Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) | Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) is the statutory awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. | http://www.fetac.ie/fetac/ |
| Gaelscoil/Gaelscoileanna | Primary school(s) providing instruction through the medium of Irish only | www.gaelscoileanna.ie/ |
| Gaelcholáiste | Post-primary school providing instruction through the medium of Irish only | www.gaelscoileanna.ie/ |
| Graduate | A person who has completed some form of course or training - particular in relation to a recipient of a college/university degree | |
| HEA | see Higher Education Authority | http://www.hea.ie/ |
| HETAC | see Higher Education and Training Awards Council | www.hetac.ie |
| Higher Education | Refers to education delivered by third level (tertiary) bodies such as universities, colleges and Institutes of Technology | |
| Higher Education Authority (HEA) | Statutory planning and policy development body for higher education and research in Ireland | http://www.hea.ie/ |
| Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) | HETAC is the qualifications awarding body for third-level education and training institutions outside the university sector (other than the Dublin Institute of Technology) | www.hetac.ie |
| Home School Community Liaison | Scheme set up to increase the link between home and school. It encourages parents to become more involved in their children's education and organises local activities to encourage greater contact between parents, teachers and local groups. | |
| Home Tuition | This scheme consists of a grant to parents or guardians to engage a tutor to provide tuition to their child at home where a child is not attending school due to specific reasons. | |
| HSE | Health Service Executive | http://www.hse.ie/eng/ |
| HSCL | see Home School Community Liaison | |
| ICT | Information and Communication Technology | |
| Increment | Point of staged increase on salary scale | |
| Incremental Credit | Credit obtained for previous service which will enable applicant to move up salary scale | |
| INTO | Irish National Teachers' Organisation | http://www.into.ie/ |
| IPPN | Irish Primary Principals' Network | http://www.ippn.ie/ |
| IT /IoT | Institute of Technology | |
| IVEA | Irish Vocational Education Association | http://www.ivea.ie/ |
| JMB | Joint Managerial Body for Secondary Schools, Ireland | http://www.jmb.ie/ |
| July Education/Provision | This scheme provides funding for an extended school year for children with a severe or profound general learning disability or children with autism | |
| Junior Certificate | The Junior Certificate examination is taken after three years of post-primary education | http://www.examinations.ie/ |
| LCA | see Leaving Certificate Applied | http://www.ncca.ie/ |
| LCVP | see Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme
| http://www.ncca.ie/ |
| Learning Support & Resource Teacher (LS/RT) | A Learning support & Resource teacher (LS/RT) caters for children with learning delays or with a high-incidence disability such as mild general learning disability and dyslexia. | |
| Leaving Certificate | The traditional Leaving Certificate examination is the terminal examination of post-primary education | http://www.examinations.ie |
| Leaving Certificate Applied | Similar to the traditional Leaving Certificate Programme, but with a concentration on technical subjects and some additional modules which have a vocational focus | http://www.ncca.ie/ |
| Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme | Intended to meet the needs of those students who are not adequately catered for by other Leaving Certificate programmes. Person-centred course involving a cross-curricular approach rather than a subject-based structure. | http://www.ncca.ie/ |
| Lifelong Learning | Relates to the concept of people at all stages of life being able to avail of learning opportunities | |
| Literacy | The ability to read and write | |
| Masters degree | Awarded on successful completion of post-graduate degree course | |
| Multi-denominational School | Refers to schools which embraces multi-belief ethos | http://www.educatetogether.ie/ |
| NABMSE | National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education | http://www.nabmse.org/ |
| NAPD | National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals | http://www.napd.ie/ |
| National Council for Curriculum & Assessment | Agency which leads development on curriculum and assessment. | http://www.ncca.ie/ |
| National Council for Special Education (NCSE) | The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was set up to improve education services for people, particularly children, with special needs arising from disabilities | http://www.ncse.ie/ |
| National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) | Funded by the Department, this service is concerned with children's learning and behaviour and their social and emotional development. NEPS psychologists work with primary and post-primary schools. | |
| National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) | Agency whose functions include dealing with problems associated with school attendance and with children who are educated outside of school system | http://www.newb.ie/ |
| National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) | A system via which all qualifications (whether at a national or international level) may be measured and related to each other | http://www.nqai.ie/ |
| National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) | Agency with responsibility for developing and maintaining the National Framework of Qualifications. Irish centre for the recognition of international qualifications (Qualifications Recognition - Ireland). | http://www.nqai.ie/ |
| National School | see under Primary/ National School | |
| National University of Ireland (NUI) | A federal university with nine academic and vocational campuses across Ireland | http://www.nui.ie/ |
| NCCA | see National Council for Curriculum & Assessment | http://www.ncca.ie/ |
| NCSE | see National Council for Special Education | http://www.ncse.ie/ |
| NEPS | see National Educational Psychological Service | |
| NEWB | see National Education Welfare Board | http://www.newb.ie/ |
| NFQ | see National Framework of Qualifications | http://www.nqai.ie/ |
| Non-denominational School | Refers to secular schools which are not aligned to any religion | |
| Non-statutory Leave | Leave for which entitlement is not laid down in law | |
| Notional Service | Scheme allowing the purchase of additional pensionable service | |
| NPC | National Parents Council - Primary | http://www.npc.ie/npc/default.aspx |
| NPCpp | National Parents Council - Post-Primary | http://www.npcpp.ie/ |
| NQAI | see National Qualifications Authority of Ireland | http://www.nqai.ie/ |
| NUI | see National University of Ireland | http://www.nui.ie/ |
| Numeracy | The ability to carry out numerical calculations | |
| OCG | Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge: exam that allows teachers with foreign qualifications to satisfy the Irish language requirement for primary teaching | |
| October Returns (pupil data) | Annual collection of data on pupil enrolments provided by recognised post-primary schools to the Department | |
| OECD | The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development | www.oecd.org |
| Oideas | Former academic journal of the Department of Education and Skills | |
| OLCS | On-Line Claim System | |
| Parental Leave | Unpaid leave available to teachers and special needs assistants to facilitate the care of their children. | |
| Paternity Leave | Leave not exceeding three (3) days which is available teachers and special needs assistants who are new fathers | |
| Patron (school) | In general, the patron of a school can be an individual or a group and represents the owners of the school. The patron may manage the school personally or may appoint a person or group, such as a Board of Management, to act as manager. | |
| Paypath | PayPath is the method by which wages/salaries may be paid directly into bank or building society accounts | |
| PE | Physical Education - component of primary and post-primary curricula | www.ncca.ie |
| PLC | Post Leaving Certificate course | |
| Post-graduate | Referring to studies which takes place after first university degree, or student who undertakes same | |
| Post-Primary/Second-level School | School where child undergoes second compulsory stage of education. Post-primary education consists of a 3 year Junior Cycle, followed by a 2/3 year Senior Cycle. A Transition Year (TY) may be included as part of a Senior Cycle. | |
| PPP | Public Private Partnership | |
| PPSN | Personal Public Service Number. It is a unique identifier for use in any transactions you may have with public bodies. This is available from the Client Identity Section in the Department of Social Protection. | http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Pages/default.aspx |
| Primary/ National School | School where child completes first compulsory stage of education. Primary education consists of an eight year cycle: junior infants, senior infants, and first to sixth classes. | |
| Principal | The Principal is responsible for running the school. S/he answers to the Patron, which is the person or group who represents the owners of the school, and to the school's Board of Management. | |
| Probation | Process whereby the professional competence of new primary teachers is assessed. Involves examination of practice by Inspectorate. | |
| PRSI | Pay Related Social Insurance | http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Pages/default.aspx |
| PSPR | Public Service Pension Reduction | |
| Redeployment | Redistribution of surplus permanent and CID-holding teachers to fill permanent posts | |
| Remediation | Used particularly in reference to works which are designed to eliminate or reduce environmental hazards | |
| Residential Institution | Used to refer to industrial schools, reformatories and other institutions that were subject to state regulation or inspection and in which children historically resided | |
| Resource Teacher (RT) | A resource teacher (RT) helps schools to support children with low-incidence special needs arising from disability | |
| Retention | Used in relation to the retention of students in the educational system | |
| RPT | Regular Part-time Teacher | |
| SCG | Scrúdú le haghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge: exam that allows teachers with foreign qualifications to satisfy the Irish language requirement for primary teaching | |
| School Completion Project | Programme aimed at assisting young people to stay in primary and second-level education | www.dcya.gov.ie |
| SCP | see School Completion Project | www.dcya.gov.ie |
| SEC | State Examinations Commission | http://www.examinations.ie/ |
| SESS | see Special Education Support Service | http://www.sess.ie/ |
| Secondment | Temporary assignment of a teacher to a vacant position in an external organisation where the work to be carried out by the seconded teacher is of clear benefit to the educational system and/or is in the public interest. | |
| Section 29 Appeal | Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 allows parents, and students who have reached the age of 18, to appeal certain decisions made by a school's Board of Management. Appeals may be made about a decision to expel,
suspend (for more than 20 school days in any one school year) or
refuse to enrol a student. | |
| SEN | Special Educational Needs | |
| SENO | see Special Education Needs Organiser | http://www.ncse.ie/ |
| September Returns | September Returns are a return of each post-primary teacher’s timetable within a given school as of the 1st September. | |
| SESS | see Special Education Support Service (SESS) | http://www.sess.ie/ |
| Short Term Placement | Short Term Placements are pupils coming from another country on a temporary basis or exchange programme, of which the duration is less than a full academic year. | |
| Single Sex School | Referring to schools which teach boys and girls separately | |
| SNA | see Special Needs Assistant | |
| Social Inclusion | Referring to collection of measures to combat disadvantage | |
| Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) | SENOs are appointed by the NCSE to provide a direct local service to the parents of children with special educational needs and to schools within geographical areas. This involves identifying the needs of children and deciding on the level of resources schools required. | http://www.ncse.ie/ |
| Special Education Support Service (SESS) | The role of the Special Education Support Service (SESS) is to enhance the quality of learning and teaching in relation to special educational provision. | http://www.sess.ie/ |
| Special Needs | Referring to specialist education requirements of children who face physical, mental or developmental challenges | |
| Special Needs Assistant | Special needs assistants care for pupils with disabilities or certain medical conditions in school. | |
| Special school | Refers to school catering to pupils with severe physical and mental disabilities and behavioural problems. | |
| SPHE | Social, Personal and Health Education - strand of primary and post-primary curricula | http://www.ncca.ie/ |
| Standardisation of the school year | Refers to the standardisation of schools breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-terms | |
| State Examinations Commission | Agency responsible for delivering and assessing State Examinations (post-primary level) | |
| Statutory Leave | Leave to which a person is entitled i.e. annual leave and public holidays, maternity leave, parental leave, force majeure, carer’s leave, adoptive leave | |
| Superannuation | Referring to pension or payments made toward a future pension | |
| Syllabus | Outline of a subject or course | |
| Tender | A formal quotation to provide a service or carry out works for a fixed price | |
| Third Level | Refers to education delivered by tertiary level bodies such as universities, colleges and Institutes of Technology | |
| Transition Year | Optional year which may be included as part of Senior Cycle at post-primary level. Allows students to experience a wide range of educational inputs, including work experience. Not exam-based. | |
| Trustee (school) | The Trustees are the persons nominated by the Patron as trustees of the school. They undertake that the buildings shall continue to be used as a school for the term of the lease and guarantee that the Board of Management shall properly insure the premises and the contents. | |
| TUI | Teachers' Union of Ireland | http://www.tui.ie/ |
| TY | see Transition Year | |
| Under-graduate | A student at a college or university who has yet to obtain a degree, or in reference to studies which such a student would undertake | |
| USC | Universal Social Charge | http://www.revenue.ie/en/index.html |
| VEC | see Vocational Education Committee | http://www.ivea.ie/ |
| Visiting Teacher for the Hearing & Visually Impaired | Provides advice and support to ensure that the needs of children and young peoples with hearing and visual impairments are met. | |
| VTHVI | see Visiting Teacher for the Hearing & Visually Impaired | |
| Vocational Education Committee (VEC) | VECs are statutory education authorities which have responsibility for vocational educational training, youth work and a range of other statutory functions | http://www.ivea.ie/ |
| Vocational School | Vocational schools are state-established second level schools which are administered by Vocational Education Committees (VECs) | http://www.ivea.ie/ |
| Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) | Second chance education and training programme which provides courses of up to two years for unemployed people. | |
| Voluntary Secondary School | Voluntary Secondary schools are privately owned and managed, usually by religious bodies | http://www.jmb.ie/ |
| VTOS | see Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme | |
| Whole School Evaluation (WSE) | WSEs are inspections carried out on primary and post-primary schools. Reports of these inspections are posted on the Department's website. | |
| WSE | see Whole School Evaluation | |
| Youthreach | Inter-departmental initiative for early school leavers | |