| A Level | Advanced Level | Exam taken usually between the ages of 16 and 19 |
| AES | Alternative Education System | Specialist education for children for whom mainstream school is not the best option. |
| BB99 | Building Bulletin 99 | |
| BSF | Building Schools for the Future | See definition on home page and useful links |
| CABE | Commision for Architiecture and the Built Environment | The government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. |
| CLC | City Learning Centre | Facility shared across a local authority with ICT beyond that found in most schools. Available for community use. Part of the EIC programme. |
| CYPP | Children and Young People’s Plan | Overarching planning for all matters relating to children and young people in an authority. |
| DCSF | Department for Children, Schools and Families | Government department responsible for education in England and Northern Ireland. (see useful links) |
| ECM | Every Child Matters | A series of policies and strategies to over come barriers to learning and improve achievement for all children. |
| EIC | Excellence in Cities | A programme launched to raise standards and promote inclusion of all pupils in urban areas. |
| GCSE | General Certificate of Secondary Education | |
| GNVQ | General National Vocational Qualification | An exam taken at school or college geared towards the work place. |
| ICT | Information Communication Technology | |
| LA | Local Authority | Local government/council |
| LEP | Local Education Partnership | Partnership between the private sector, LA and partnerships for schools. It is responsible for building schemes in the BSF programme. |
| LSP | Local Strategic Partnership | All partners, PCT, LA etc. who work together to decide the development of an area. |
| OBC | Outline Business Case. | Details of first four BSF projects. |
| PCT | Primary Care Trust | Oversees local medical services. |
| PFI | Private Finance Initiative. | Public projects e.g. schools which are paid for with investment from the private sector. |
| PfS | Partnerships for Schools | Co-ordinates the national delivery of the BSF programme. See useful links. |
| PSP | Private Sector Partner | See PFI |
| RC | Roman Catholic | |
| SAT | Standard Assessment Test | National exams taken in English, Mathematics, ICT and Science at key point in a child’s primary and secondary education. |
| SBC | Strategic Business Case | Outline overview of whole BSF project, vision, aims and actions. |
| SEN | Special Educational Needs | Pupils who need support / intervention that is different from or additional to that provided for their peers. |
| STaG | South Tyneside and Gateshead | |
