Acronyms in Education

I have just arrived home after a school governors’ meeting. It struck me just how many acronyms we use. Here are some we talked about or referred to today:

• TLR – teaching and learning responsibility
• MA – management allowance
• UPS – upper pay scale
• PPA – planning, preparation and assessment
• PDR – professional development review
• IIP – investors in people
• SEF – self-evaluation form
• LGS – local government scale
• SDA – school development adviser
• AOTT – adults other than teachers
• H&S – health and safety
• QTS – qualified teacher status
• NQT – newly qualified teacher
• DFES – department for education and skills
• CRB – criminal records bureau
• LEA – local education authority
• LSA – learning support assistant
• HLTA – higher level teaching assistant
• ICT – information communication technology

Oops, I nearly forgot OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) which has such an important place in English schools that it is mentioned in reference to nearly everything else. It is occasionally said that schools would run better if there were no F in OFSTED.

Finland

I am wondering where to emigrate. Finland sounds like a good place:

1. Finland has one of the most successful education systems in Europe.
2. The Finnish government has advised people not to use Internet Explorer and adopt a different browser, until various security issues are resolved. A good idea. I wonder whether the UK government knows of any alternatives to Internet Explorer.
3. Santa Claus lives in Finland.