Education terms: D
50 terms starting with D, with where each one is used. Choose a term for related terms.
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- Data drop All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A point in the year when teachers must enter assessment data into the school's tracking system.
- Data protection officer (DPO) All four UK nations (details may differ)
- The person a school must appoint under UK GDPR to advise on and monitor compliance with data protection law.
- DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service check) England Wales
- A criminal records check in England and Wales. Most school staff need an enhanced check with a children's barred list check.
- DDSL (Deputy designated safeguarding lead) England
- A trained member of staff who supports and deputises for the DSL.
- Dean's list United States
- A list of college students recognised for high grades in a term.
- Decodable book All four UK nations (details may differ) United States
- A reading book containing only the letter-sound correspondences and words a child has already been taught.
- Dedicated schools grant (DSG) England
- The main government grant to local authorities in England for school funding, split into schools, central services, high needs and early years blocks.
- Deep dive England
- An inspection method in which inspectors look closely at one subject, talking to leaders, teachers and pupils, visiting lessons and looking at work, to evaluate the curriculum.
- Deferred entry All four UK nations (details may differ)
- Applying to university for a place starting a year later than normal.
- Degree apprenticeship England
- An apprenticeship at level 6 or 7 in which the apprentice gains a full bachelor's or master's degree while working.
- Degree classification All four UK nations (details may differ)
- The grading of UK honours degrees: first class (1st), upper second (2:1), lower second (2:2) and third (3rd), with an ordinary or pass degree below.
- Department chair United States
- A teacher who leads a subject department in a US school. UK: head of department.
- Department for Education (DfE) England
- The UK government department responsible for children's services and education in England, including schools, early years, further education and apprenticeships.
- Department of Education (NI) (DE) Northern Ireland
- The Northern Ireland Executive department responsible for pre-school, primary, post-primary and special education and youth services.
- Deputy headteacher All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A senior leader who works directly below the headteacher and deputises for them.
- Designated teacher England Wales
- A teacher who has statutory responsibility for promoting the educational achievement of looked-after and previously looked-after children at a school.
- Detention All four UK nations (details may differ) United States
- A sanction in which a pupil is kept at school during break, lunch or after school.
- Developmental education United States
- Non-credit or below-college-level courses for college students who need to strengthen reading, writing or maths skills.
- Diagnostic assessment All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- Assessment used to find out what a learner already knows or where their difficulties lie, usually before teaching.
- DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) United States
- Short screening measures of early reading skills used in many elementary schools.
- Differentiation All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- Adapting teaching, tasks, support or outcomes so that pupils with different needs can all make progress.
- Digital citizenship United States All four UK nations (details may differ)
- Teaching students to use technology responsibly, safely and respectfully.
- Digital literacy All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- The skills needed to find, evaluate, create and communicate information using digital technologies.
- Digraph All four UK nations (details may differ) United States
- Two letters that make one sound, such as sh or ee.
- Dining hall All four UK nations (details may differ)
- The room where UK pupils eat lunch; also called the canteen.
- DipHE (Diploma of Higher Education) England Wales Northern Ireland
- A level 5 higher education qualification, equal to two years of a bachelor's degree.
- Direct Instruction (DI) United States All four UK nations (details may differ)
- With capitals, a specific scripted teaching programme developed by Siegfried Engelmann; in lower case, any teacher-led explicit teaching.
- Directed time England Wales
- The 1,265 hours over 195 days a year that a full-time teacher in a maintained school in England can be directed to work by the headteacher.
- DIRT (Directed improvement and reflection time) All four UK nations (details may differ)
- Lesson time set aside for pupils to act on feedback and improve their work.
- Disadvantage gap England
- The difference in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
- Disadvantaged pupils England
- In school performance measures in England, pupils eligible for free school meals in the last six years, looked-after children and previously looked-after children.
- Disciplinary literacy All four UK nations (details may differ) United States
- The reading, writing and talking skills specific to each subject.
- Disclosure All four UK nations (details may differ)
- When a child tells an adult about abuse or harm. Staff should listen, not promise confidentiality, record it and report it to the DSL.
- Do now All four UK nations (details may differ) United States
- A short task that pupils start immediately on entering the classroom, often reviewing prior learning.
- Doctorate All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- The highest level of degree (RQF level 8), such as a PhD or EdD, awarded for original research.
- Document camera United States
- A camera that displays papers or objects on a screen. UK: visualiser.
- Domestic abuse All four UK nations (details may differ)
- Abusive behaviour between people aged 16 or over who are personally connected; children who see, hear or experience its effects are victims in their own right in England and Wales.
- Dorm (Dormitory) United States
- A residence hall for students at a US college.
- Dress code United States All four UK nations (details may differ)
- Rules on what students may wear at school, used in many US schools instead of a uniform.
- Drop-in All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A short, unannounced visit to a lesson by a leader or coach.
- DSL (Designated safeguarding lead) England Wales
- A senior member of staff in a school or college in England who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, including online safety. Deputies are DDSLs.
- Dual coding All four UK nations (details may differ) United States
- Combining words with visual representations, such as diagrams or timelines, to aid understanding and memory.
- Dual enrollment United States
- High school students taking college courses that count for both high school and college credit.
- Dual language program United States
- A programme teaching students in English and another language with the goal of bilingualism and biliteracy.
- Due process hearing United States
- A formal hearing to resolve a dispute between parents and a district about a child's special education.
- Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) All four UK nations (details may differ) International
- A youth award programme with bronze, silver and gold levels covering volunteering, physical activity, skills and an expedition.
- Dyscalculia All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- A specific learning difficulty that affects the ability to understand numbers and learn maths facts.
- Dysgraphia United States All four UK nations (details may differ)
- A difficulty with handwriting and putting thoughts into writing.
- Dyslexia All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- A specific learning difficulty that mainly affects reading and spelling, especially accurate and fluent word reading.
- Dyspraxia (Developmental coordination disorder (DCD)) All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International
- A condition affecting physical coordination and motor skills, which can also affect organisation and planning.
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.
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