From a new aerospace academy aiming to help breed the next generation of spacemen, to chewing gum and its benefits for exam results, and even a school which is tackling the thorny issue of ‘baggy pants’, we take our monthly roundup of the weird, wacky, and even serious news stories from the world of education. Join us, and share your comments.

Interest grows for teacher scholarships

Almost 2,000 teachers have now applied for the government’s new £2 million scholarship scheme for teachers. The National Scholarship Fund for Teachers was set up earlier this year to help existing teachers in England develop their skills and deepen their subject knowledge. It offers scholarships worth up to £3,500 to help them acquire postgraduate qualifications and make further academic progress, reports wired.gov.

Read more…

Following on from our feature on St. George’s School in Switzerland, we speak to Hazel Hogg, who lives with her husband and her daughters Morven (11), Rowan (8) and Alexa (3) in France – practically on the border with Switzerland, where they enjoy stunning views of the Alps and Lake Geneva.  Her children attend the International School of Geneva. Here Hazel talks about living overseas, and tells us more about choosing this school for her children. Read more.

Could you explain how you came to be living in France, and why you chose an international school for your children?

Read more…

As we bid a fond farewell to 2011, what better time to take a look back over the serious, and not so serious education stories which hit the headlines during the last year. Here we pick out some of our favourites, along with those issues which really got people talking.

Read more…

We’ve opened our Saudi Arabia Talent Pool, and this week we’ve put together a special feature on working in the country. “In some years we have one or two days when it may rain, but this is not certain,” explains Bruce Gamwell, Director of the British International School of Jeddah. Read on to learn more about the school from Bruce and other teachers, and find out about current Saudi vacancies.

“Make of it what you can and Jeddah will return your efforts and not disappoint you.

The sun always smiles in Jeddah.”                              

“Make sure you have plenty of fancy dress costumes!”

“You never have to iron again!”                     

“Make sure you are good at journey directions especially if your partner is not, alternatively buy a GPS on arrival!”

“Visiting old Jeddah is magical and an experience you should not miss and try to repeat.

Read more…

Education secretary Michael Gove has ordered an inquiry following claims last week that examiners are giving teachers ‘secret advice’ on what questions their pupils should expect in GCSE and A-level papers. Read more, and share your views.

An undercover investigation by the Daily Telegraph claims to have exposed the ‘questionable practice’, and now Mr Gove has instructed the exams regulator Ofqual to investigate and report back their findings before Christmas.

Read more…