English vocabulary. Education: debates and issues

equality of opportunity

when everyone has the same chances

selective

pupils are chosen for entry, usually for academic reasons, though, in the case of some private schools, parents’ ability to pay school fees may be a factor in selection

comprehensive

everyone enters without exams and education is free, paid for by the government

schooling

education received at school

elitism

when you favour a small, privileged group

inherent in

existing as a basic part of something

league tables

lists of schools or colleges, from the best down to the worst, based on exam results and, sometimes, other criteria

perpetuate

make something continue

two-tier system

a system with two separate levels, one of which is better than the other

perceives

sees, considers

better-off

richer

well-endowed

receiving a lot of money in grants, gifts from rich people, etc. [= endowments]

depressing

reducing

less well-off

poorer

excel

achieve an excellent standard

scholarships

money given to pay for studies, usually provided on the basis of academic merit

bursaries

money given to pay for studies, usually provided on the basis of need

tertiary

education at university or college level

student loans

money that students can borrow from a bank while studying and then pay back once they are in work

undergraduates

students doing a first degree postgraduates

tuition fees

money paid to receive teaching

the three Rs

reading, writing and arithmetic

literacy

the ability to read

numeracy

the ability to count / do basic maths

curriculum reform

changes to what is covered in the national syllabus = plan of what is to be studied

lifelong/continuing education

education for all ages

mature students

adult students older than the average student

special needs education

education for children who cannot learn in the normal way, because they have some disability

one-to-one

one teacher and one pupil, not a group

bullying

threatening behaviour

guidelines

advice (often official) on how something should be done

distraction

takes attention away