Education terms: B
36 terms starting with B, with where each one is used. Choose a term for related terms.
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- Bachelor's degree All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- A first university degree, usually three years in England, Wales and NI, four years in Scotland and four years in the US.
- Back-to-school night United States
- An evening early in the school year when parents meet teachers and learn about classes.
- Backward design United States All four UK nations (details may differ)
- Planning a unit by starting with the desired outcomes and assessments, then designing the learning activities (Understanding by Design).
- Baker clause England
- The legal requirement on schools in England to let training and apprenticeship providers talk to pupils about technical education options.
- Balanced literacy United States
- A literacy approach combining whole-language and phonics elements, including guided reading and leveled books; criticised by science of reading advocates.
- Bank holiday All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A public holiday in the UK; schools are closed.
- Barred list England Wales Northern Ireland
- A list of people barred from working with children (or adults) in regulated activity.
- Before-and-after-school care United States
- US childcare programmes on school sites outside class hours.
- Behaviour for learning All four UK nations (details may differ)
- Behaviours and attitudes, such as focus and resilience, that help pupils learn, as distinct from just compliance.
- Behaviour policy All four UK nations (details may differ)
- The school document setting out expected behaviour, rewards and sanctions, and how staff will respond to poor behaviour.
- Bell ringer United States
- A short task students begin as soon as class starts. UK: starter or do now.
- Bell schedule United States
- The timetable of periods and passing times in a US school day.
- Benchmark assessment United States
- Tests given several times a year to monitor progress towards standards; also called interim assessments.
- Benchmarks Scotland
- Education Scotland documents that set out what learners need to know and do to achieve each curriculum level.
- Bilingual learner All four UK nations (details may differ) United States
- A pupil who uses two or more languages in daily life.
- Blended learning All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- Combining online and face-to-face teaching.
- Blending All four UK nations (details may differ) United States
- Merging individual sounds together to read a word.
- Block scheduling United States
- A schedule with fewer, longer class periods each day, such as 90-minute blocks; A/B block alternates sets of classes on alternate days.
- Bloom's taxonomy All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- A framework classifying learning objectives by complexity; the revised version lists remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate and create.
- Board of governors Northern Ireland
- The name used in Northern Ireland (and by many schools elsewhere) for a school's governing body.
- Boarding school All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- A school where some or all pupils live during term time.
- Bologna Process International
- The agreement among European countries to make higher education systems compatible, through a three-cycle degree structure and credit transfer.
- Bond measure United States
- A vote asking local residents to approve borrowing, often to build or repair schools.
- Book look All four UK nations (details may differ)
- An informal name for work scrutiny.
- Booster club United States
- A parent group that raises money for a school team or activity.
- Break time All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A short break between lessons, usually mid-morning. US: recess.
- Breakfast club All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A before-school club that gives children breakfast and supervised activities.
- British international school International
- A school outside the UK that follows the English national curriculum and qualifications such as IGCSE and A levels.
- British values (Fundamental British values) England
- The values schools in England must actively promote: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
- Broad general education (BGE) Scotland
- The first phase of Curriculum for Excellence, from early learning and childcare to the end of S3.
- BSO (British Schools Overseas) International
- A voluntary DfE-accredited inspection scheme for British schools overseas.
- BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) All four UK nations (details may differ)
- Career-focused vocational qualifications awarded by Pearson at levels from entry to 7, graded pass, merit, distinction and distinction*.
- Burgundy Book England Wales
- The national agreement on conditions of service for school teachers in England and Wales, covering sick pay, maternity pay and notice periods.
- Bursar All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A name, common in independent schools, for the person who manages the school's finances.
- Bursary All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A non-repayable payment to a student, usually based on financial need.
- Busing United States
- Transporting students to schools by school bus; historically also refers to court-ordered transport to desegregate schools.
Being checked against official sources. Definitions are written in our own words; always check the official guidance for your country.
Definitions are written by Classfern in our own words for teachers in the UK and the US. They are short explanations, not legal or official definitions: always check the official guidance for your country, nation or state. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government department, inspectorate or exam board named here.