Education terms: L

52 terms starting with L, with where each one is used. Choose a term for related terms.

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LADO (Local authority designated officer) England

The local authority officer who manages allegations against adults who work with children.

Land-grant university United States

A US university established under the Morrill Acts, traditionally with a focus on agriculture, engineering and extension.

LEA (US) (Local educational agency) United States

The federal legal term for a public body, usually a school district, that runs public schools locally.

Leading practitioner England

A teacher role in England with its own pay range, whose main purpose is modelling and leading improvement of teaching skills.

League tables All four UK nations (details may differ)

The everyday name for published tables ranking schools by exam results.

Learning intention All four UK nations (details may differ)

Another name for a learning objective, common in primary schools and Scotland.

Learning mentor All four UK nations (details may differ)

A member of staff who helps pupils overcome barriers to learning such as poor attendance or behaviour.

Learning objective (LO) All four UK nations (details may differ) United States

A statement of what pupils should learn in a lesson. Also called a learning intention, WALT (we are learning to) or, in the US, a learning target.

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

What a learner should know or be able to do by the end of a lesson, unit or course.

Learning standards United States

Statements of what students should know and be able to do, usually by grade and subject. UK nearest: programmes of study.

Learning support assistant (LSA) All four UK nations (details may differ)

A teaching assistant who mainly supports pupils with special educational needs.

Learning support coordinator (LSC) Northern Ireland

A role in Northern Ireland schools under the newer SEN framework, broadly equivalent to the SENCO.

Learning target United States

A student-friendly statement of what students will learn in a lesson, often written as I can statements.

Learning walk All four UK nations (details may differ)

Short, often informal visits to several classrooms to gather a picture of teaching and learning across a school.

Leavers' assembly All four UK nations (details may differ)

A celebration assembly for pupils leaving a school, such as Year 6 or Year 11.

Lecturer All four UK nations (details may differ)

In UK universities, a standard academic post below senior lecturer, reader and professor.

Lesson observation All four UK nations (details may differ) United States

Watching a lesson to evaluate teaching or give developmental feedback.

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

A teacher's plan for a lesson, setting out objectives, activities, timings, resources and assessment.

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

A collaborative professional development method, from Japan, in which teachers plan, observe and refine a lesson together.

Letter grades United States

The US system of grades A, B, C, D and F (sometimes with + and -), usually tied to percentage bands set by the school or district.

Letter of recommendation United States

A letter from a teacher or counselor supporting a student's college application. UK: reference.

Level 1 England Wales Northern Ireland

A qualification level that includes GCSE grades 3 to 1 (D to G) and level 1 functional skills and NVQs.

Level 2 England Wales Northern Ireland

A qualification level that includes GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), intermediate apprenticeships and level 2 functional skills and NVQs.

Level 3 England Wales Northern Ireland

A qualification level that includes A levels, AS levels, T Levels, the IB Diploma, advanced apprenticeships and the Access to HE Diploma.

Level 4 England Wales Northern Ireland

A qualification level that includes the Certificate of Higher Education, HNCs and higher apprenticeships.

Level 5 England Wales Northern Ireland

A qualification level that includes foundation degrees, HNDs and the Diploma of Higher Education.

Level 6 England Wales Northern Ireland

A qualification level that includes bachelor's degrees with honours, ordinary degrees, graduate diplomas and degree apprenticeships.

Level 7 England Wales Northern Ireland

A qualification level that includes master's degrees, integrated master's degrees, postgraduate certificates and diplomas and the PGCE.

Level 8 England Wales Northern Ireland

The highest qualification level, which includes doctorates such as the PhD or DPhil.

Levels of response All four UK nations (details may differ)

A marking approach in which an answer is placed into a band or level according to its overall quality before a mark is chosen within the level.

Lexile United States

A widely used scale from MetaMetrics that measures text complexity and readers' ability.

Liberal arts college United States

A US college focused on undergraduate education across the humanities, sciences and social sciences.

Linear qualification All four UK nations (details may differ)

A course where all exams are taken at the end, as with reformed GCSEs and A levels in England.

LLW (Learning for Life and Work) Northern Ireland

A statutory area of learning at post-primary level in Northern Ireland covering employability, local and global citizenship, home economics and personal development.

LMS (Learning management system) All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International

Software for delivering and managing courses, assignments and grades online, such as Google Classroom, Canvas or Moodle.

LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) All four UK nations (details may differ)

An admissions test used by some UK universities for law courses.

Local authority (LA) England Wales Scotland

The local council responsible for education services in its area, such as school places, admissions, SEND support and maintained schools. Sometimes still called the LEA (local education authority).

Local education authority (LEA) England Wales

An older name for the part of a local council responsible for education. Today usually just called the local authority.

Local governing body (LGB) England

A committee of the trust board in a multi-academy trust that oversees an individual academy, with powers set by the scheme of delegation.

Local offer England

Information that each local authority in England must publish about the services and support available for children and young people with SEND in its area.

Lockdown drill United States All four UK nations (details may differ)

A practice of procedures for keeping students safe if there is a threat inside or near the school.

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

A small lockable cupboard for a student's belongings, standard in US high schools.

Long-term memory All four UK nations (details may differ) United States International

The memory store that holds knowledge and skills for the long term; learning can be seen as a change in long-term memory.

Long-term plan All four UK nations (details may differ)

A year-long overview of the topics or units to be taught.

Looked-after child (LAC) All four UK nations (details may differ)

A child in the care of a local authority, for example living with foster carers or in a children's home. Often now called a child looked after (CLA).

Looping United States

A teacher staying with the same class for two or more years as they move up grades.

Low-level concern England

A worry about an adult's behaviour towards children that does not meet the harm threshold but is inconsistent with the staff code of conduct.

Low-stakes quiz All four UK nations (details may differ) United States

A short test that does not count towards grades, used for retrieval practice and checking understanding.

Lower sixth England Wales

A traditional name for Year 12, the first year of sixth form.

LRE (Least restrictive environment) United States

The IDEA requirement that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.

Lunch duty All four UK nations (details may differ) United States

Supervising pupils during the lunch break, a task on staff rotas.

Lunchtime supervisor All four UK nations (details may differ)

A member of staff who supervises pupils during the lunch break; traditionally called a dinner lady.

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

Education glossary A–Z