A
Assistant Housemistress Or Housemaster
Helps provide cover for the Housemistress or Housemaster, giving pupils round the clock supervision
B
Boarder, Boarding
Pupils who live at the school during term-time, including staying overnight
Bursaries
Some independent schools provide bursaries, which are grants from the school to help pay school fees and may be means tested. They differ from scholarships, which are usually dependent on the pupil’s ability (in music, sport or academic ability, etc).
C
Casuals or Mufti
Pupils' own clothes, as opposed to uniform
Chapel
A private church for use by the school, often set in the school’s own grounds
Chaplain
The church minister who looks after the school’s staff and pupils, who form the congregation in the chapel
Closed Weekend
A weekend during which no exeats or floaters may be taken, usually because a whole-school event is taking place
Common Entrance Examinations
Common entrance examinations are sometimes required to be taken by pupils for admission to an independent school. Many schools also use the common entrance exam as the basis for awarding entrance scholarships and bursaries
Curriculum
The set of courses and their content that are offered at a school
D
Day Pupils
Pupils living locally who attend the school for lessons and extra-curricular activities, but who do not board
Dormitories Or Dorms
Pupils’ bedrooms, usually shared by several pupils - though older pupils may have single study bedrooms
E
Entrance Examination
School entrance examinations are usually taken by pupils at the ages of 11+, 13+ or 16+ and require a minimum pass rate for pupils to be offered a place at that school
Exeat
A period of absence from school. A weekend's leave from a boarding school or a required note to take absence from school either for entire days, or parts of a day, for appointments, interviews, open days and other fixtures
F
Fees
The charges for your child’s education, cost of boarding, food and educational trips
Fixed Exeat
A weekend during which all pupils must leave the school
Flexi Boarding
A combination of boarding and day. Where the pupil boards for part of the week and attends daily for the rest of the week. Some families find that this suits them best, and it can be a useful way for a pupil to decide whether or not they want to become a fulltime boarder
Floaters
Exeat weekends which you choose, as opposed to a fixed exeat on which everyone goes away
Full Boarding
An arrangement whereby pupils board throughout the school term
H
Housemistress Or Housemaster
A Housemistress or Housemaster is assigned to run each boarding house and provides for the day-to-day care of the pupils, away from lessons. Typically, they will be the first point of contact for parents about all matters concerning their child, and also an important friend and mentor for the child throughout their school life. The Housemistress or Housemaster may also teach an academic subject and be assisted by an Assistant Housemistress or Housemaster to provide round the clock cover
I
Independent School
Schools which are self-governing and funded independently of the state
Independent Special School
Schools which are self-governing and funded independently of the state and provide for pupils with special educational needs
K
Kindergarten
A school for young children often aged between 0 and 6. Also known as a nursery school or pre-school
L
Lent Term
The name of the spring academic term
Local Authority
Local Authority in UK under which each school is registered
M
Matron Or San Sister
The nurse who works in the San or Sanatorium
Michaelmas Term
The name of the autumn academic term
Montessori
A method of educating young children that stresses development of a child's own initiative and natural abilities, especially through practical play
Mufti or Casuals
Pupils own clothes, as opposed to uniform
N
Non-Maintained Special School
Non-maintained special schools are independent special schools approved by the Secretary of State for Education. They are run on a not-for-profit basis by charitable trusts and normally cater for children with severe and/or low incidence special educational needs
Non-Selective School
These types of schools do not require pupils to take an examination prior to being offered a place
O
Open Days, And Open Mornings
When prospective pupils and their parents can visit schools and often receive a guided tour
P
Pastoral care
To look after pupils personal needs, rather than their education. Making sure they are happy, comfortable, well-fed and have clean laundry, etc
Pre Preparatory Or Pre Prep
Independent schools preparing children up to the age of seven for entry into fee-paying, preparatory independent schools, which may also be known as public or private schools
Preparatory Or Prep
Independent schools preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, which may also be known as public or private schools
Prep
Another word for homework
Principal
A principal is the most senior teacher and leader of a school, also known as Head of School, head teacher, headmaster, headmistress, or the head
Proprietor
The owner of a the school
Public School
Schools which are self-governing and funded independently of the state
Private school
Schools which are self-governing and funded independently of the state
Pupil Referral Unit
A pupil referral unit (PRU) is established and maintained by a local authority which is specially organised to provide education for children who are excluded, sick or otherwise unable to attend mainstream school and is not a special school
S
San Or Sanatorium
The school’s medical centre, staffed by a resident qualified nurse who looks after pupils' healthcare needs, typically supported by the local GP and other healthcare services as required
San Sister Or Matron
The nurse who works in the San or Sanatorium
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a pupil to help with education or boarding. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award
Schools Own Curriculum
Is the set of courses and their content which are offered at a school and may vary from school to school as some schools work to their own bespoke curriculum
Selective School
A selective school may require pupils to sit and pass an examination in order to be offered a place
SEN Unit
Provides special provision within a mainstream school where the children are taught mainly within separate classes. Units cater for a specific type or types of Special educational needs (eg: autistic spectrum disorders); are usually for pupils with statements of special educational needs
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Pupils who have been statemented for special educational needs (eg: mild learning difficulties)
Study Bedroom
Bedrooms for older pupils, who have a room to themselves instead of sleeping in a Dormitory or dorm to allow them more privacy and independence
T
Tuck Box
Snacks and sweets, either brought from home or bought from the school tuck shop and kept safely in each pupil’s tuck box
Tutor
Assigned to each pupil to talk to them about their progress in all academic subjects and in other aspects of school life
Tutor Group
A group of pupils who share the same tutor. They usually meet at least once a day for registration, general discussion and administration
V
Vespers
A religious service held in the evenings
W
Weekly Boarding
An arrangement whereby pupils may board during the week and go home every weekend
