Understanding UK education terminology: My experience as an overseas teacher

Teaching is a global profession, with many educators developing and sharing their skills overseas.

I made the move to the UK from Australia and have found the education systems share fundamental similarities. Whether it be a London ‘Pupil Referral Unit’ or a Catholic secondary college in Melbourne, the goal remains the same. What does change is the terminology.

Here are some key terms that will set overseas teachers up for success in the UK:

SIMS, registers and roll calls

When I first arrived in London, I was still under the impression that “Sims” was a computer game. It is actually an online platform used by 20,000 schools every day to track student progress. I was also unaware that UK students have their names checked off a “Register” at the beginning of class. This is commonly known as a “Roll” in Australia.

SLT, NQT and QTS

During my first London school placement, a member of the SLT (Senior Leadership Team) asked whether I was an NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) and if I had QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). Not knowing what any of the acronyms stood for, I gave a fairly honest response: “I’m sorry mate, I have absolutely no idea!”

‘Year 13 and the key stages’

Even greater variations are found in the educational stages. In the UK, the oldest year group is Year 13, as opposed to Year 12 in Australia. In the UK, age groups are clustered into key stages rather than years. This requires another article altogether, but a great source is:

GCSEs and A-Levels

Students at the end of their period of compulsory education sit their GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams in Year 11 across all subjects. The results determine in part the educational pathway a student takes in their tertiary studies. Post GCSEs, students are encouraged to stay in education and attend a Sixth Form or College for 2 years, where they will sit their A-Level (Advanced Level) exams in 3 or 4 subjects. This is the final step of schooling before university.

Ofsted

All mainstream schools in the UK are regulated and measured by the government’s school regulatory board Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education). Ofsted Inspectors rate schools under four headings, from ‘Outstanding’ to ‘Inadequate’. A school’s effectiveness is based on the following criteria: overall effectiveness, effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment and outcomes for pupils. The pressure on schools to achieve a rating of at least ‘Good’ is immense. Poor ratings can affect school funding. In the most extreme of cases, schools can be shut down.

When teaching in the UK for the first time, my advice is to familiarise yourself with UK based terminology. Head Teacher Alex Russell would agree with me. See his advice on how to stand out, especially in CVs and interviews –

https://www.facebook.com/anzuk.uk/videos/852067988261604/

https://www.facebook.com/anzuk.uk/videos/870447156423687/

Know the terminology to demonstrate your professionalism and passion. It will give a competitive advantage to stand out from the crowd.

I have since moved from teaching and into educational recruitment. As I specialise in recruiting overseas-trained teachers. It is my goal to use my own knowledge and experience to make the transition to the UK as seamless as possible.

If you’re looking for teaching or assistant work in the UK, please contact me on tyler.h@anzuk.education