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.

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What’s been happening in the world of education this month? In our regular snoop through the headlines, we find out where teachers have been rated in a poll of the best dressed professions, hear about a ‘pupils’ court’ which is challenging speeding drivers, and learn about the youngsters living on a daily diet of junk food. Join us and have your say

Speeding drivers face ‘pupils court’

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Shocking new research has revealed that almost a third of teachers have had a false allegation made against them by a pupil that may have placed their career in jeopardy. Read more…

The research into false allegations in the classroom was conducted by the NASUWT and the Tonight programme, which teamed up to see how the government’s promises to assert the authority of teachers in the classroom are affecting those on the front line.

The findings were featured in an ITV programme ‘Taking Control of the Classroom’, aired last week.

The survey revealed that over two thirds of teachers say they would think twice about breaking up a fight between students because of the threat of pupils making false allegations against them.

Malicious allegations

In the programme, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:

“For years the NASUWT has been collecting data, tracking allegations and supporting members who have had their lives and careers destroyed by false and malicious allegations made against them

“Therefore, while the results of the survey come as no surprise, they do serve to highlight the continuing and significant risks facing teachers.

“Ninety-nine per cent of teachers surveyed said that they were concerned that a pupil may make a false allegation against them, yet more than four out of five do not feel that protections for teachers are adequate.

“The Coalition Government makes bold promises of handing power back to teachers, but the proposed new powers to search and restrain pupils will leave teachers even more vulnerable to allegations and litigation

“What is needed is a change in the law to offer real support and protection to teachers, who all too often, through no fault of their own, face personal and professional ruin as a result of being falsely accused by pupils.

Meanwhile, Dr Mary Bousted, General Secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said false allegations from pupils were “hugely damaging”:

“They can end the careers of school staff and blight their private lives as a result of the stress.  Good teachers, heads and support staff are lost from schools to the detriment of children’s education.

“Of course the protection of children should be paramount, but it should not be at the expense of natural justice. We hope that changes being introduced in the Education Bill will redress the balance, so that school staff are not presumed guilty until they are proven innocent and their anonymity is preserved.  However, many ATL members are worried that if the Bill encourages staff to search pupils it could backfire and lead to false allegations about improperly handling pupils and complaints from parents.

Post traumatic stress

Among various anonymous case studies identified by the ATL was that of a secondary teacher who said:  “Two work colleagues have been recently suspended; one was dismissed despite a police investigation proving innocence.”

The Daily Telegraph also reported on the case of a teacher who was finally cleared of sexually assaulting schoolchildren, during which he contemplated suicide and his family life was torn apart.

From concerns the ‘three Rs’ are being neglected to a school that gives pupils different coloured uniforms based on their academic abilities – see what’s got people talking this month in our offbeat look at education news in the media. Join us, and have your say.

Carol Vorderman campaigns for maths

Celebrity numbers whizz Carol Vorderman has authored a report calling for a radical change to be made to the teaching of maths, and for the subject to be taught up to the age of 18, according to a BBC News article.

Apparently almost half of 16-year-olds are failing to achieve grade C at GCSE, and just 15% are studying maths beyond that level.

In her report, which was commissioned by Education Secretary Michael Gove and Prime Minister David Cameron, the former Countdown star claims more than 300,000 16-year-olds complete their education each year without enough understanding of maths to function properly in their work or private lives.

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What are the hot topics in the world of education at the moment? Here we take our regular flick through the papers, to see what’s got people talking. From one school where dancing is seen as the best start to the day, to teachers in trouble over the use of music videos and controversial calls for climate change to be taken out of the curriculum – join us and have your say.

Climate change off the curriculum

A top government adviser, charged with an overhaul of the school syllabus in England, has said climate change should not be included in the national curriculum.

In an interview with The Guardian, Tim Oates said there is a need to get back to teaching the ‘science in science’, and that it should be up to schools to decide how they engage pupils on issues of climate change – and whether to do so at all.

Climate change has featured in the national curriculum since 1995. Those opposing to its removal from the classroom have warned it may make science less interesting for pupils and allow sceptical teachers to abandon teaching the subject altogether.

Oates is also calling for algebra to be taught from a younger age. His full review of the curriculum for five- to 16-year-olds will be published later this year.

Best way to start the day…get dancing!

For one infant school in Hampshire, dancing is the only way to start the day, reports the BBC. Pupils at Liss Infant School are treated to a short song and dance session each morning, before they start their first lesson – and it’s working wonders for their learning, according to teachers.

Around 180 five to seven-year-olds brave all weathers to take part in the motivational dance routine, performed each morning in the school playground.

US teacher in trouble over playlist

Meanwhile across the pond, a teacher from the Amercian state of Massachusetts has landed in hot water after showing pupils risqué music videos, as part of a lesson on media analysis. Parents reacted strongly to Eminems’s ‘Superman’, and Jessy J’s ‘Do it like a dude’ videos being played to pupils.

One enraged parent went straight to the police, who confirmed the versions used were edited and not ‘obscene’. Yet many parents remain unhappy and an investigation is underway, reports the Metro West Daily News. 

Failing schools to become academies

Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced that hundreds of failing primary schools could be removed from local authority control and converted into academies under new government plans, reports the Daily Telegraph.

While addressing head teachers in Birmingham, Mr Gove warned that Britain risks falling behind developing economies unless the pace of improvement in the education system is accelerated.

Plans to ‘clamp down’ on the worst performing schools in the country could see hundreds become academies and placed under the control of a third party sponsor, who will have more powers over management, including admissions and pay.

Secondary schools will also be ordered to ensure that at least half of pupils leave with five good GCSEs, including English and maths, by 2015.

From Radio 2 to the classroom

Radio 2 breakfast show host, Chris Evans, is waving goodbye to his long-time sidekick Jonny Saunders, as he quits the popular show to become a teacher.

Sports reporter Jonny, 36, has completed an Open University teaching degree and now plans to give lessons in English and games at a secondary school.

Speaking about his decision, Jonny explained that teaching is something he has always been passionate about. The married dad-of-two told the Daily Mirror that working on the radio show had been ‘an absolute joy… but there’s only so long one can cope with the 3.50am alarm calls.’

Seeing double at one school

A primary school in Stockport is facing an unusual challenge, as it welcomes a multitude of twins into its classrooms.

St John’s Primary in Heaton Mersey now has six sets of twins – three of which are identical, and all aged between four and 10, reports the BBC (link launches video and report).

And finally….

New comedy ‘doesn’t send good message about teachers’

Finding that Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake have joined the teaching staff at your school must be a dream for many pupils – and teaching staff alike! Sadly, it’s only a reality in the latest Hollywood film to delve into the teaching profession, ‘Bad Teacher’.

The film comedy centres on a teacher with her sights set on bagging a rich man. It sees some major misbehaving in the classroom and ‘doesn’t exactly send out a good message about teachers,’ concludes a review by Ok! Magazine.

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