Education Glossary

Plain-English definitions of common international school terms, so you can compare schools without decoding jargon first.

Accreditation: An external review process that checks whether a school meets standards set by an education or accreditation body.
Admissions Assessment: A test, interview, classroom visit, or portfolio review used by a school to understand a child's readiness and support needs.
A Levels: Subject-based qualifications usually taken in the final two years of a British curriculum pathway before university.
Bilingual Programme: A school programme that teaches meaningful parts of the curriculum in two languages, not only a separate language class.
Boarding: A residential option where students live on campus during the school week or term, with pastoral care outside classroom hours.
Cambridge IGCSE: International exams typically taken around ages 14 to 16 in schools following a British or Cambridge pathway.
Curriculum: The academic framework a school follows, such as IB, British, American, Australian, Montessori, or a national curriculum.
EAL / ESL: English as an Additional Language or English as a Second Language support for students still building academic English.
IB Diploma Programme: A two-year International Baccalaureate programme for ages 16 to 19 that combines six subject groups, extended research, service, and theory of knowledge.
Learning Support: Specialist help for students with learning differences, additional needs, language needs, or targeted intervention plans.
Pastoral Care: The systems a school uses to support student wellbeing, behavior, transitions, safeguarding, and social development.
Waitlist: A list of applicants who meet the school's requirements but cannot be offered a place until capacity becomes available.

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