Jargon buster

A, A2 and AS Levels – ‘advanced’ and ‘advanced subsidiary’ level qualifications. These focus on traditional study skills. They normally take two years to complete full-time, although they can be studied part-time. An A level is made up of two equal parts - an AS level from the first year of study, and A2 from the second year. The AS can also be used as a qualification in its own right, worth 50% of an A level. A and AS levels are the traditional route into higher education, although not the only route.

Apprenticeships – combine work and study. Apprentices work for an employer and earn a wage, but are released from work, usually for one day each week, to learn relevant skills at college. There are intermediate, advanced and higher apprenticeships, which reflect the different entry requirements for the courses.

BTEC – these are vocational qualifications, designed to teach the skills that employers will want. BTECs are available at different levels, depending on previous qualifications, and can be used to go straight into employment, or for higher education, doing an HND or diploma.

Bursaries – an amount of money to fund your time at college. Some bursaries will help with the cost of fees, some with living costs and some with both.

Centres – Warwickshire College has six different centres which offer different courses and provide different facilities. The centres are located in Leamington Spa, Rugby, Henley-in-Arden, Warwick, Moreton Morrell and Pershore in Worcestershire.

Distance learning – courses run for students who will not physically attend lectures. These courses are extremely flexible, and so are ideal for people who might not be free to come to college during the day, as they can choose when and where they want to study.

ESOL – English for speakers of other languages. These courses are for people who speak or are learning English as their second language. They take a practical approach, teaching students topics  that will help them deal with everyday situations.

FE – further education, the courses that 16 to 18-year-olds most commonly undertake. A levels and BTEC awards are further education, but there are a wide range of academic and vocational courses for students to choose.

Flexible study – this aims to attract and meet the needs of a wider range of students than those who are able to follow the traditional route of full-time study on site. It includes part-time and distance learning and often makes use of technology to help students access resources off-campus and out of hours.

Foundation degree - equivalent to the first two years of an honours degree, combining  academic study with work-based learning. Students can use it as a stand-alone qualification, or progress to do an additional year of study for a complete honours degree.

Foundation diploma – a level 1 qualification, equivalent to five GCSEs at grades D to G.

Full-time - a typical full-time student will study approximately 16 hours per week, plus homework. Students on apprenticeship programmes are expected to work approximately 37 hours, including time at college.

Freshers – students just starting out at the beginning of their higher education course.

GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education, an academic qualification taken in a specified subject. Students aged 14–16 in secondary education will take several GCSEs in different subjects. GCSEs grade A* - C are level 2 qualifications, while grades D to G are level 1. Compulsory subjects vary by institution, but always include English and maths.

HE – Higher Education, this is the university-level education that follows Further Education or sixth form.

HNCs and HNDs - Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas are work-related (vocational) higher education qualifications. While bachelors degrees tend to focus on gaining knowledge, HNCs and HNDs are designed to give you the skills to put that knowledge to effective use in a particular job. HNCs take one year to complete full time, while HNDs take two years. Both can be used as part of a full honours degree.

Halls of Residence (‘Halls’) – flats provided on college sites for students, halls can be catered, where meals are provided in a canteen, or self-catered, where students have access to communal kitchen facilities to prepare their own meals.

IT – Information Technology, specifically referring to managing technologies such as processes, computer software, information systems, computer hardware and programming languages.

ICT - Information and Communications Technology, often used in place of IT, but a more general term which includes all technical means used to handle information and aid communication. As well as IT, it includes telephone communications, broadcast media and all types of audio and video processing.

Key Skills - the essential skills that everyone needs to succeed in education and training, in work and in life in general. There are three main key skills subjects: communication, application of number and ICT. There are also three wider key skills subjects: working with others, improving own learning and performance and problem solving. The subjects are available to study at different levels, to suit individual students.

Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) – provide in-class support for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. LSAs tend to have specialist subject knowledge in the areas in which they work.

Learning Support Tutors (LSTs) – qualified maths and English staff who offer support at all six college centres – support is flexible and can be arranged to fit in around college life.

Levels – Qualifications are grouped together into ‘levels’ making it easier to see what a particular qualification is equivalent to, for example, A levels and BTEC nationals are both Level 3 qualifications.

Literacy – the ability to read and write.

NVQ – National Vocational Qualification. Students learn practical, work-related tasks designed to help them develop the skills and knowledge to do a job effectively. NVQs are based on national standards for various occupations, which say what a competent person in a job could be expected to do. NVQs are appropriate for those wanting to learn new work-related skills from scratch, and for those who already have skills and want to develop them and gain a formal qualification.

NUS – National Union of Students, the main organisation that brings together students’ unions for separate institutions across the UK. When students become members of the NUS they are issued with a membership card.

Numeracy – the ability to understand and work with numbers.

Part-time study – any course that requires less the full-time hours (approximately 16 hours per week). This can include evening courses of just a few hours each week, to several days’ attendance every week.

UCAS – the University and College Application Service, the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK. If your son or daughter wishes to apply for a full time course in higher education, at Warwickshire College or elsewhere, they need to apply thorugh UCAS. For part time courses, students can apply directly through the college.

Vocational training – any training that prepares students for a particular trade or occupation, often (but not always) involving manual or practical activities. There are vocational qualifications in a wide range of subjects and they tend to be more ‘hands-on’ than academic qualifications.

Work-based learning – teaching or learning provided in connection with a person’s employment, whether delivered by the employer in the workplace or at college. This can also refer to the process of helping people prepare for work. Work-based learning can cover all levels of ability, from entry level (pre-GCSE) to postgraduate. It provides employees with the vocational skills and knowledge they need to carry out their job competently or advance their career.