Education terms: G

42 terms starting with G, with where each one is used. Choose a term for related terms.

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Gaelic medium education (GME) Scotland

Education in Scotland where Gaelic is the main language of teaching.

Gamification United States All four UK nations (details may differ)

Using game elements such as points, badges and levels to motivate learning.

Gap year All four UK nations (details may differ) United States

A year taken out, usually between school and university, to work, travel or volunteer.

Gatsby Benchmarks England

Eight benchmarks of good career guidance that schools and colleges in England are expected to meet.

GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) England Wales Northern Ireland

The main qualification taken at the end of Key Stage 4, usually at age 16. In England GCSEs are graded 9 to 1; Wales uses A* to G; Northern Ireland uses a nine-grade A* to G scale that includes C*.

GCSE 9 to 1 grading England

The grading scale for reformed GCSEs in England, from 9 (highest) to 1, with U for ungraded. Grade 4 broadly lines up with the bottom of the old grade C and grade 7 with the bottom of the old grade A.

GED (General Educational Development) United States

A set of tests that adults who did not finish high school can pass to earn a high school equivalency credential.

Generative AI All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International

AI that produces new text, images or other content in response to prompts, such as chatbots.

Gifted and talented (G&T) All four UK nations (details may differ) United States

Pupils identified as having high ability or exceptional talents; many UK schools now say more able or high prior attainers.

Gifted education United States

Services for students identified as gifted, such as advanced classes or enrichment; also called GATE or TAG.

Gillick competence England Wales

A legal test of whether a child under 16 is mature enough to consent to their own medical treatment without parental consent.

GIRFEC (Getting it right for every child) Scotland

The Scottish Government's national approach to supporting children's wellbeing, built around the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) International

A test used for admission to business school programmes such as MBAs.

Golden time All four UK nations (details may differ)

A weekly reward time in some primary schools when children choose an activity, which can be reduced for poor behaviour.

Good level of development (GLD) England

A summary measure from the EYFS profile: a child has a good level of development if they reach the expected level in the early learning goals for the prime areas plus literacy and mathematics.

Governing body (GB) England Wales Northern Ireland

The board responsible for the strategic leadership of a maintained school, holding the headteacher to account and overseeing finances.

Governor England Wales Northern Ireland

A volunteer member of a school's governing body who helps set strategy, holds leaders to account and oversees finances.

GPA (Grade point average) United States International

The average of a student's course grades converted to points, usually on a 4.0 scale where A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1 and F = 0. Scales and weighting vary by school.

GPS test (Grammar, punctuation and spelling test) England

The KS2 national curriculum test in English grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Grade boundaries All four UK nations (details may differ)

The minimum marks needed for each grade in an exam series, set after marking and published by the exam boards.

Grade level United States

A student's year of schooling in the US, from kindergarten to grade 12. The UK equivalent is year group.

Grade skipping United States

Moving a student ahead by one or more grades because of advanced ability; UK: acceleration.

Grading period United States

A portion of the school year, such as a quarter, trimester or semester, after which grades are reported.

Gradual release of responsibility (GRR) United States All four UK nations (details may differ)

An instructional model in which responsibility for a task shifts from the teacher to the learner over time.

Graduate diploma All four UK nations (details may differ)

A level 6 qualification for graduates, often used to convert to a new subject.

Graduate school United States

In the US, study after a bachelor's degree, such as a master's or doctoral programme. UK: postgraduate study.

Graduate student United States

A student in a master's or doctoral programme in the US. UK: postgraduate student.

Graduated approach England

The four-part cycle of assess, plan, do and review that schools in England use to support pupils with SEN.

Graduation All four UK nations (details may differ) United States

Completing a course of study, and the ceremony celebrating it; in the US high school graduation is a major event.

Graduation rate United States

The percentage of students who graduate high school with a regular diploma; ESSA uses the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate.

Graduation requirements United States

The credits, courses and sometimes tests a state or district requires for a high school diploma.

Grammar school England Northern Ireland

A state secondary school that selects pupils by academic ability, usually through an entrance test taken in Year 6 (England) or Primary 7 (Northern Ireland).

Grapheme All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International

A letter or group of letters that represents a phoneme in writing.

GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) United States International

A test from ETS used for admission to many graduate programmes.

Greater depth England

In teacher assessment frameworks in England, a judgement that a pupil is working above the expected standard, for example greater depth in KS2 writing.

Growth mindset All four UK nations (details may differ) United States

Carol Dweck's idea that believing abilities can be developed through effort and strategies supports learning.

GTCNI (General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland) Northern Ireland

The body that registers teachers in Northern Ireland; registration is required to teach in grant-aided schools.

GTCS (General Teaching Council for Scotland) Scotland

The independent body that registers teachers in Scotland; registration is required to teach in Scottish state schools.

Guidance counselor United States

An older US name for a school counselor.

Guided learning hours (GLH) England

The time a learner spends being taught or supervised for a qualification.

Guided reading All four UK nations (details may differ) United States

A teacher reading with a small group of pupils at a similar level to teach reading strategies.

Gym United States

An informal US name for physical education, and for a sports hall.

Being checked against official sources. Definitions are written in our own words; always check the official guidance for your country.

Education glossary A–Z