Samantha Lauren King | Schools Week

Pair of micro-pigs join school to help develop pupils’ creative writing

Two micro-pigs spent a week at a south London school to help its primary pupils to develop their English skills. Seven-month-old Stacey and Jane were brought in to Dunraven School to tie in with year 1 pupils looking at The Three Little Pigs, and the year 3s studying Charlotte’s Web, which features Wilbur the pig. […]

Pupils fly four-seater plane as part of year-long STEM initiative

A group of year 9 pupils flew a four-seater plane as part of a programme that engages young people with STEM subjects. Twenty-seven pupils from Bristol Metropolitan Academy received flying lessons in groups of three with an instructor at Gloucester Airport, before each took turns to control the plane in the air. The lessons were […]

Nominations open for Global Teacher Prize with $1 million pot

A global teaching competition is now accepting nominations for the world’s best teacher. The Global Teacher Prize aims to spotlight the work of teachers across the world, and is open to educators from every country. The competition – run by the Varkey Foundation – is open to those teaching young people aged 5 to 18; […]

School and council team up to restore medieval building using £50,000 lottery grant

A team of pupils from Strood Academy in Kent is helping to bring a 13th century-building back into the public eye. Temple Manor, a grade 1 listed medieval stone hall built by the Knights Templar – a military and religious order founded during the Crusades – is on an industrial estate,, with few people aware […]

Year 8 pupil spends the day as headteacher of Highgate School

A year 8 pupil took over London’s Highgate School for a day, swapping places with the school’s headteacher who was sent to take up his place in classes. A charity raffle gave Joe Lever the chance to become head at the independent school, while the incumbent Adam Pettitt went back to life as a pupil. […]

Ofqual wants teacher feedback on summer’s reformed qualifications

Ofqual wants teachers’ feedback on this summer’s reformed GCSEs, AS and A-level qualifications. The exams regulator is inviting teachers to attend workshops to share what went well – and not so well. The workshops, planned for November at the University of Warwick in Coventry, will be the first opportunity for the exam regulator to gather […]

Commonwealth medallist leads fitness sessions at Lancashire academy

Commonwealth medallist James Denny recently visited Castercliff Primary Academy in Lancashire to keep pupils motivated during a morning of sporting activities. Denny (pictured far left), who won a Commonwealth Games silver medal alongside Tom Daley in 2014, took the children through a series of challenges including press-ups and star jumps, before delivering an assembly about […]

Bob the Builder creator gives drawing masterclass to primary pupils

The illustrator behind Bob the Builder has held a drawing masterclass for pupils at the Elms Junior School in Derbyshire. Curtis Jobling (pictured above) – who designed the popular cartoon builder in 1997 – showed pupils how to draw some of his most popular creations. Year 6 pupils had a crash course in re-creating Bob, […]

Mentoring scheme supports teachers in girls’ schools to go for SLT roles

A new mentoring scheme that offers two years’ coaching from leaders in a range of industries is aiming to encourage more women teachers to move into senior leadership roles. The GSA mentoring programme for prospective leaders will be free for women teaching at state and independent girls’ schools within the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA) and […]