Boarding school: a school in which most or all of the students live during the part of the

year that they go to lessons.

Grammar school: a school in the UK for children between the ages of 11 and 18 who have passed a special examination to be allowed to go there.

Comprehensive school: a UK school for students of different levels of ability between

the ages of 11 and 18. A comprehensive school is often simply called a comprehensive.

State school: in the UK, a school that is supported with money from the government and

that provides a free education for children.

Public school: an expensive private school where students usually live as well as study.

Private school: a school providing education that the children’s parents pay for directly.

GCSE: General Certificate of Secondary Education 

NVQ: National Vocational Qualification: a qualification in the UK in a technical subject

A level: examination in one of several subjects that students in England and Wales must take in their final year at school or college before going to university.

HND: Higher National Diploma: a British qualification in technical subject, usually gained by studying for two years at college

BA/BSc: Bachelor of Arts: a first degree from a university in a subject such as languages or history. A first degree in a scientific subject is a BSc

MA/MSc: Master of Arts: an advanced degree in a subject such as languages or history from a university. An advanced degree in a scientific subject is called an MSc.

PhD: Doctor of Philosophy: the highest university degree.