Education A to Z

Education and Curriculum Terms: A Guide for Students and Teachers

Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.

Revising? We write GCSE revision songs — a playlist covering most subjects and the English set texts. Listen to the revision playlist.

80 terms filed under S, showing 51–60 (page 6 of 8).

S

Speaking exam

The oral assessment: role play, photo card and conversation. Preparation shows.

Special diets

Adapting food for medical, ethical and religious requirements.

Special educational needs post-16

SEND support does not stop at 16, and the duties change shape.

Special school

Also called Specialist provision, Resourced provision, SEN unit

A school for children with SEND. Almost always requires an EHCP, and it is not the only specialist option.

Speech and language therapy

Also called SALT, SLT, Speech therapy

Therapy for communication and sometimes eating and drinking. In education law it is usually educational provision.

Speech, language and communication needs

Difficulty understanding or using language. The most common form of SEND and the most missed.

Speed, distance and time

The compound measure that appears in every paper and in physics.

Spelling, punctuation and grammar

The technical accuracy marks. A substantial share of every writing task.

Sport and society

Participation, barriers, commercialisation and ethics in sport.

Sports psychology

Motivation, arousal, anxiety and goal setting in performance.

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