Leeds City College

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Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)

Leading membership organisation for accounting professionals and an awarding body for accountancy qualifications.

ACE (Adult and Community Education)

Offers local residents the opportunity to develop skills and interests through learning in their own locality.

Access Courses

Designed to help adults with little or no formal qualifications get back into education and move on to higher-level studies.

Alumni

Former students who have graduated from an educational organisation (usually at a higher education level).

Apprenticeships

Job-related vocational training programmes that enable students to gain NVQs and technical certificates whilst on the job.

AS and A2 Levels

Allow school leavers to choose 4 or 5 subjects to study full-time in the first year.
After exams have been sat and completed, students then generally pick 3 of those
subjects to carry on with and gain full A Levels in.

British Training and Enterprise Council (BTEC)

Examination board / qualification.

Basic Skills (Skills for Life)

The ability to read, write, speak and to use mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress both in and outside work.

CACHE

Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education.

CIEH

The UK’s leading awarding body for vocational qualifications in accredited food safety, health and safety and environmental protection qualifications.

City and Guilds (C and G)

The main provider of vocational qualifications in the UK, offering over 500 different qualifications.

Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE)

Specialist areas of vocational provision.

Chartered Institute of Personal and Development (CIPD)

Continuing Professional Development in Human Resources Management.

Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)

Exists to promote and develop high standards of professional skill, ability and integrity
among all those engaged in purchasing and supply chain management.

Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

The main awarding body for marketing qualifications.

Clearing

The system operated by UCAS to allocate students places on courses that still have
vacancies after the publication of the A level results.

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

The main awarding body for management qualifications.

Connexions

Advice and guidance service just for 13 to 19 year olds; they provide free advice and information about learning, careers, health, housing and money.

e-Learning

Learning programmes available via the internet, usually associated with distance learning.

Edexcel

The largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing
to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally.

Entry Level courses

The route for those students who require extra help or have specific learning difficulties.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Specially designed programmes of study for those students new to the English language.

EMA

A means tested payment to school leavers (aged 16 – 19) who are planning to continue with further education after they’ve finished their GCSEs.

Further Education (FE)

Education for people who are over 16 years old, this includes all study, whether on a full or part-time basis.

First Diploma

A one year vocational qualification in a hands-on area.

Foundation Levels

Beginner courses that develop communication and study skills to provide a well-rounded introduction to a chosen subject. Most people use them as a route to Intermediate level courses.

Foundation Degrees

Vocational higher education qualifications built with the help of employers, to ensure
that students receive the specialist technical knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs)

The examinations of basic secondary education taken by 16 year old.

Graduate

A person who has been awarded a higher education degree from a university or college.

Higher Education (HE)

Includes all education above Advanced Level. This could include HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees and Honours Degrees.

Higher National Certificates (HNCs)

Often studied part time by students who are working. If you complete a HNC you may wish to choose to go into higher education where you would have to complete the second and third year of a course.

Higher National Diplomas (HNDs)

Given for vocational training that prepares the student for a career in a particular area. Most HND graduates go on to get a job or to study further, leading to a professional qualification or a degree.

Institute of Credit Management (ICM)

Qualifications are designed for those who wish to gain a recognised professional credit
management qualification or for those wishing to enter the credit management sector.

Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX)

The professional body that represents Legal Executives and trainee Legal Executives and enhances their role and standing in the legal profession.

Key Skills

A range of essential skills that underpin success in education, employment, life long learning and personal development. These include communication, application of number and information technology.

NC

A National Certificate, a two year vocational qualification available in a range of
vocational subjects.

National Diploma (ND)

Vocational qualification available in a range of subjects.

National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC)

Specialists for agricultural land based qualifications.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

Work-based qualifications.

OCR

A UK awarding body, providing a wide range of qualifications to meet the needs of learners of all ages and abilities.

Sixth form

The final (optional) two years of secondary schooling when students are sixteen to eighteen years of age and normally prepare for their A-level examinations.

Skills for Life

The ability to read, write, speak and to use mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress both in and outside work.

Universities and Colleges’ Admissions Service (UCAS)

The organisation which handles all university applications.

Vocational Learning

Prepares learners for particular careers, occupations and may involve a substantial element of work-experience (Apprenticeships are a form of vocational training).