Education terms: N

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

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NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) United States

Known as the Nation's Report Card, a federal assessment given to samples of students in grades 4, 8 and 12 to compare achievement across states and over time.

NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers) England Wales Northern Ireland

A trade union for headteachers, deputies and other school leaders, mainly in primary schools.

Named person Scotland

Under GIRFEC, a clear point of contact (often a health visitor or senior teacher) for a child and family to go to for advice or help.

NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers) All four UK nations (details may differ)

A trade union for teachers and school leaders that operates across all four UK nations.

Nation's Report Card United States

The popular name for NAEP, the US national assessment of student achievement.

National 1 Scotland

A Scottish national qualification at SCQF level 1, assessed by the school and ungraded (pass/fail).

National 2 Scotland

A Scottish national qualification at SCQF level 2, ungraded.

National 3 Scotland

A Scottish national qualification at SCQF level 3, internally assessed and ungraded.

National 4 Scotland

A Scottish national qualification at SCQF level 4, internally assessed and graded pass or fail, with an added value unit.

National 5 (N5) Scotland

A Scottish national qualification at SCQF level 5, usually taken in S4, graded A to D with No Award; broadly comparable in level to a GCSE at grades 9 to 4.

National Board Certification United States

A voluntary advanced certification for experienced US teachers from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

National curriculum England

The set of subjects and programmes of study that maintained schools in England must teach from Year 1 to Year 11. Academies must teach a broad and balanced curriculum but need not follow it.

National curriculum levels England

The old system of levels (Level 1 to Level 8 plus exceptional performance) used to describe attainment in England until they were removed in 2014. Still mentioned in older resources.

National funding formula (NFF) England

The formula the Department for Education uses to calculate core funding for each mainstream school in England.

National offer day England

The day families in England are told their child's school place: 1 March for secondary and 16 April for primary (or the next working day).

National Progression Award (NPA) Scotland

A short SQA qualification in a vocational area, at SCQF levels 2 to 6.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP) United States

The federally funded programme, run by the USDA, that provides low-cost or free lunches in schools.

National Teacher Day United States

The Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week in the US.

National Tutoring Programme (NTP) England

A government programme in England from 2020 to 2024 that subsidised tutoring for pupils who missed learning during the pandemic.

Nativity play All four UK nations (details may differ)

A play about the Christmas story traditionally performed by infant pupils.

NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) United States

The federal agency that collects and analyses US education data, including the Digest of Education Statistics and NAEP.

NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics) England

The organisation that leads the Maths Hubs programme and provides maths teaching guidance in England.

NCLB (No Child Left Behind Act) United States

The 2002 version of the ESEA that required annual testing and adequate yearly progress targets; replaced by ESSA in 2015.

NEA (Non-exam assessment) England

Assessment in GCSEs and A levels that is not a timed written exam, such as coursework, practical work or a performance, carried out under set controls.

NEA (union) (National Education Association) United States

The largest US labor union, representing teachers, education support staff and others.

NEET (Not in education, employment or training) All four UK nations (details may differ)

A young person aged 16 to 24 who is not in any education, job or training.

NEU (National Education Union) England Wales Northern Ireland

The largest education union in the UK, representing teachers and support staff.

New to English All four UK nations (details may differ)

An EAL pupil at the earliest stage of learning English.

NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) United States

K-12 science standards developed by states and partners and released in 2013, built on three dimensions: practices, crosscutting concepts and disciplinary core ideas.

Ninth grade United States

The first year of US high school (freshman year), for students aged about 14 to 15; equivalent in age to Year 10.

No hands up All four UK nations (details may differ)

A classroom rule that pupils do not raise their hands; the teacher chooses who answers.

Non-contact time All four UK nations (details may differ)

Time in the school day when a teacher is not teaching a class.

Northern Ireland Curriculum Northern Ireland

The statutory curriculum for schools in Northern Ireland, organised in the Foundation Stage, Key Stages 1 to 4 and areas of learning, with cross-curricular skills.

Notice period (teachers) England Wales

The rule in the Burgundy Book that teachers in maintained schools may resign only at set dates (31 October, 28 or 29 February, 31 May) to leave at the end of a term.

Notional SEN budget England

The part of a mainstream school's budget identified as available to meet the cost of SEN support, typically up to a set threshold per pupil.

NPQ (National Professional Qualification) England

DfE-accredited qualifications in England for teachers and leaders, such as NPQH (headship), NPQSL (senior leadership), NPQLT (leading teaching) and NPQ for SENCOs.

NPQ for SENCOs (National Professional Qualification for Special Educational Needs Coordinators) England

The mandatory national qualification in England for newly appointed SENCOs, which replaced the National Award for SEN Co-ordination.

NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) England

The NPQ for current and aspiring headteachers in England.

NQT (Newly qualified teacher) England Wales Northern Ireland

A teacher in their first year after qualifying. In England the term has been replaced by ECT; Wales and NI still use NQT; Scotland uses probationer.

Nursery school All four UK nations (details may differ)

An early years setting for children under compulsory school age, typically 3 and 4 year olds; it may be standalone or attached to a primary school (a nursery class).

Nurture group All four UK nations (details may differ)

A small, structured class in a mainstream school for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural needs, focusing on building relationships and skills.

NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) England Wales Northern Ireland

A work-based qualification showing competence in a job, available at levels 1 to 8; the name is now used less often.

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

Education glossary A–Z