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Don’t know your OFSTEDs from your QCAs? Look no further! Here’s a guide to some of the official bodies involved in the world of education…DFES - Department for Education and Skills This is the government department responsible for education in England. Their objectives are to:
LEA - Local Education Authority Each area of the country is divided into local education authorities. They are responsible for the staffing and maintenance of all schools in the area except for Independent Schools and Voluntary Aided Schools. You can find out all about them at the LEA Gateway site OFSTED - The Office for Standards in Education A team of inspectors visits each school at least once every six years although some schools may be monitored more regularly. They assess the school’s performance to ensure that standards of education are being maintained. Find out more at their official website QCA - The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority The QCA helps the DfES to achieve its aims by guarding standards in education and training. They provide advice to the Secretary of State about the school curriculum, about ways pupils and students are assessed and about qualifications in both general education and training. The QCA is responsible for:
SATS - Standard Attainment Tasks These are national tests taken by all school children in England and Wales at the end of Key Stages 1, 2 and 3. All children take the same tests, and are tested in English, Maths and Science (Science from Key Stage 2 onwards) to assess their levels of knowledge, skills and understanding. The results from these tests go forward to make up the Schools Performance Tables. SOW - Schemes of Work ‘Schemes of Work’ are documents published by the QCA for teachers that set out the objectives and required outcomes of the different parts of the science curriculum. They also suggest activities by which these learning outcomes these can be achieved. Schools may choose to use them or create their own. They are simply one way of teaching the science curriculum. VAS - Voluntary Aided School These are schools owned by trustees and jointly maintained by the trustees and the Council. They are often supported by a religious denomination (e.g. Roman Catholic).
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The National Curriculum
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