From ‘flashdance’ teachers becoming an online hit, to boys being put off by ‘long’ books, plans for extra years to study for core subjects and parents being reprimanded for wearing nightware to school meetings – what’s making the headlines in the world of education? We take our monthly poke around the papers to find out what’s got people talking.

Two years more studying for English & maths

Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced plans to tackle the number of pupils leaving school without a basic grasp of English or maths, says The Guardian.

Addressing MPs, Mr Gove said pupils who fail to achieve a good GCSE in English and maths will be made to study these subjects for a further two years, or to take a high-quality alternative qualification, until they leave school at 18.

The plans are part of the government’s response to a specially commissioned review into vocational qualifications. The review found that up to 400,000 teenagers were “wasting their time on college courses that did not lead to jobs or further training”.

Boys put off by long books

A survey into boys’ reading habits has found many teachers may be avoiding longer texts, as they believe boys ‘switch off’ if a book is too long, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The poll questioned 500 teachers of 11-13 year olds and found around a quarter believe that boys’ interest is often lost in the first few pages. Around one in five (22%) say it can happen within 50 pages and a further 24% at around the 100-page mark.

The research was conducted to mark the launch of Heroes, a school reading series aimed at boys. Of 260 boys aged 11-13 questioned, one in five said they prefer books with 100 pages or less.

Teachers become YouTube hit

Teachers at a high school in Fife have become a YouTube hit since they surprised pupils with an impromptu ‘flashdance’ performance, reports the Daily Mail.

Around 40 teachers at Bell Baxter High School in Cupar broke into a medley of cheesy pop songs in the school’s busy canteen, in honour of older pupils who were due to leave the school. Stunned pupils watched as teachers sang and danced to classic hits such as ‘YMCA’ and ‘Thriller’ before erupting into rapturous applause for the unexpected display. The YouTube hit has now racked up over 350,000 views.

The long and short of it

A 12-year old pupil from Cambridge decided to tackle a rule he thought was discriminatory, by wearing a knee length skirt to school in protest, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Aspiring politician Chris Whitehead decided to wear the skirt in protest that boys are banned from wearing shorts during the summer months, while girls can wear skirts. He marched to school while a group of pupils waved banners, before addressing over 1000 pupils in morning assembly wearing the skirt.

Teacher in the mire over Facebook comments

A teacher in Cornwall has apologised after branding a pupil’s coursework as ‘s**te’ on Facebook. The teacher, from Falmouth School, made the comments after working late into the evening marking year 11 coursework. They were immediately contacted by the pupil who said the comments were a ‘bit harsh’.

Unions have warned that the line between private and professional life is blurring and that teachers need to be very wary, says the Daily Mail.

In a similar case, a group of primary school teachers, including a deputy head, have been criticised by parents for posting photos of themselves on Facebook. The photos show the group on a night out, wearing army gear and posing ‘provocatively’. Privacy settings were not used to keep the images out of the public view, again reports the Daily Mail.

Pole dancing classes spark outrage

Meanwhile a dance school which is running pole dancing classes for children as young as twelve has caused outrage among residents, Christian groups and a local MP, says the Daily Mirror.

The Art of Dance pole dance and burlesque school in Plymouth is reportedly offering the classes for children aged 12 to 15 for £5-an-hour, saying it is a ‘gymnastic art, helping pupils get fitter, stronger and more confident’.

Kent school excludes eight pupils a day

The head teacher of a school where more than 400 pupils have been excluded in the space of six months has quit, reports the Daily Mirror. Christopher Sweetman has left Bishop of Rochester Academy in Kent, a school where 738 incidents of bad behaviour were logged by teachers in just one week.

And finally….

Parents reprimanded for attending meetings in nightwear

It seems it’s no longer just naughty pupils who are getting into trouble with head teachers; the parents of pupils at 11 Middlesbrough primary schools have been asked to improve their ‘decency and respect’ by ensuring they come to the school gates properly dressed, reports The Daily Express.

Parents have been issued with letters making the request following an increase in the number of parents turning up to drop off and collect pupils, and even attending meetings with teaching staff, wearing pyjamas or nightwear.

But, claims the Express, wearing pyjamas outdoors is ‘common in the town’, it quotes one pyjama wearer as saying: “I can’t be bothered getting dressed.”

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With Lancashire teachers taking the highly unusual move of striking over pupils’ bad behaviour and a ‘lack of backing from management’, we ask just how widespread these kinds of concerns are.

It’s an abnormal day when teachers strike over issues other than pay and conditions. It was widely reported in the media last week that around 70 staff at Darwen Vale High School in Darwen, Lancashire went on strike and formed picket lines to protest over what they described as threats, violence and ‘poor management.’

The Lancashire Telegraph reported that ‘members of the NUT and the NASUWT voted overwhelmingly to take strike action to protest against the management’s failure to support staff in dealing with challenging pupil behaviour.’

‘Children no better or worse than anywhere else’
A representative from the local NUT branch emphasised to the BBC that the school’s children were no better or worse than anywhere else: “This is not a strike against pupils. It is about management and management failure to support staff in dealing with challenging behaviour.”

The school is now said to be in discussion with the unions and staff to resolve the situation and to ensure “that staff feel well supported when they do need to deal with behaviour issues.”

‘Creating an allegations war zone’
The action came during a week when education secretary Michael Gove was accused of creating a “much more aggressive culture” and “creating an allegations war zone,” when he issued new guidance to schools on discipline, which reminds teachers that, where necessary, heads can bring criminal charges against pupils.

Darwen Vale has been rated as a good school, with pupils’ behaviour also given a good rating, by Ofsted (June 2010).

If you’re a teacher, do you feel supported by management over discipline issues? Do teaching staff need greater powers to deal with unruly behaviour? Why not share your views below?

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From Bristol schools where the ratio of pupils to CCTV cameras is 14:1, to a new Ofsted website encouraging parents to rate their child’s school and a teacher from West Sussex biting off more than he could chew in a fight with a crocodile, we delve in to the media to see what lessons are being learnt in the world of education. Join us and have your say.

Rate your school

A new website being launched in September by Ofsted will encourage parents to rate the performance of their child’s school. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8390740/Parents-asked-to-rate-schools.html

Exact details of how the website will operate have yet to be revealed, but it’s thought schools which receive poor feedback may be the subject of an inspection.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers’ union, is quoted voicing concerns that the system could be open to abuse and manipulation.

The website is part of a number of changes being considered, which will include a new focus on pupils, as well as the end of routine inspections for schools which are classed as outstanding. A pilot of the new style inspections is to take place in 10 schools before the Easter break, with a wider trial then planned for the summer.

Nearly half of schools going for academy status

A poll of 1,471 heads has found many schools are opting to become academies, with nearly half (46%) having converted to academy status, or saying they intend to.

The research, conducted by the Association of School and College Leaders, reveals nearly three-quarters of these schools believe that this will help them financially. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12712079

Big Brother goes to school

An investigation by the Bristol Evening Post has shown pupils in Bristol schools are being watched by at least 160 CCTV cameras every day. It found that some city schools have as many as 16 cameras in place, and in some cases figures even reach one camera for every 14 pupils.

In the article, http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Pupils-Bristol-schools-watched-160-CCTV-cameras-day/article-3330515-detail/article.html, the paper reveals that Orchard School, in Horfield, and West Town Lane Primary School in Brislington, have the most cameras of any state schools in the city. In contrast, Fairfield High School in Horfield has just one.

Campaign group Big Brother Watch has criticised the use of cameras in schools, saying UK schools use CCTV more than any other country in the world. They believe the money would be better spent educating the pupils than spying on them.

History lessons past it?

More news from Ofsted, with a warning that history lessons could become a thing of the past, as research among UK schools shows curriculum changes are having a negative impact on the subject, reports the Press Association: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hd6BeG6KG7sXKcPoxQc75RSCKycA?docId=N0441111299898946059A

The ‘History For All’ report looked at history lessons in 83 primary and 83 secondary schools between April 2007 and March 2010.

It found that curriculum changes were negatively impacting on history, with time spent on the subject being reduced.

In England, children can currently choose to stop studying history at the age of 13. The UK is the only country in Europe where this is an option.

Gove reveals new drive for teaching standards

Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced that new standards are to be introduced which will help schools weed out poor-performing teachers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12717061.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of School and College Leaders, Mr Gove said the new standards will help raise the bar for teaching and improve pupil performance and behaviour. He said that head teachers and teachers were concerned about current standards being ‘ineffective’ and ‘meaningless’.

Mr Gove has launched a review of the key skills a classroom teacher needs. The new standards will be in place by September 2012.

And finally….

A sick note with teeth

A teacher from West Sussex has been nicknamed ‘Mick Dundee’ after deciding to go crocodile wrestling while on holiday in his native Zimbabwe. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/03/14/teacher-asks-for-day-off-for-a-crocodile-bite-115875-22988001/

Scott Brand, 21, a teacher at Cumnor House school in Haywards Heath, decided to go croc wrestling after having a ‘few beers’. But the animal bit his arm, which required treatment after becoming infected and swollen.

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Unruly pupils hidden from inspectors

A former member of the General Teaching Council for England has reportedly told MPs that some headteachers are employing a range of tactics to try and keep the most disruptive pupils out of the sight of Ofsted Inspectors.

The story, covered in the Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/18/unruly-pupils-hidden-ofsted-inspectors), reports how Tom Trust outlined a range of tactics, including temporarily suspending certain children before the inspectors arrive and bringing in supply teachers to cover the worst behaved classes, as these are unlikely to be observed.

Move house for a good school?

Many parents find the school admissions procedure stressful, unfair and confusing according to an article in the Daily Telegraph. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/8101439/Most-parents-find-school-admissions-stressful.html)

Reporting on findings of a poll by Netmums, the paper reveals that nearly one in four parents feel the whole application procedure is confusing and overwhelming and 60% of parents found, or are finding it, stressful not knowing if their youngster will get a place at their preferred school.

When asked what length they would go to in order to obtain a place at a good school, nearly 57 per cent said they would be willing to move house and nearly half simply said they would do ”whatever it takes”.

Ofsted snoop on lunchboxes

School inspectors have been lifting the lid on pupil lunchboxes and grading schools on the quality of snacks that they find, according to the Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1329309/Ofsted-snooping-childrens-snacks-rating-schools-badly-unhealthy.html#ixzz15LGijbjn

They report that Ofsted inspectors are snooping in children’s lunchboxes and marking schools down if they find unhealthy snacks such as crisps and chocolate. Those schools where lunchboxes have been deemed too unhealthy, have subsequently lost marks under the ‘healthy lifestyles’ section of the inspection.

Parents have reportedly expressed amazement at the practice, while critics urge Ofsted to concentrate on teaching quality and discipline instead.

Unhappy pupils

Teenagers who do not like school are more likely to become involved in under-age sex and drinking, according to research by Liverpool John Moores University’s Centre for Public Health.

As reported by the Press Association http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h-nOBHSLakdFOY_r_vJutoBs82mw?docId=N0243991289297354776A, the study says that happiness at school and home can be key indicators of whether a child is likely to indulge in “risky” behaviour.

The study questioned 3,641 children aged 11 to 14 living in north-west England about sex and alcohol use, as well as asking about their general well-being.

And finally…

‘Batman’ teacher wins award

A creative teacher from West Yorkshire who employs a range of unusual techniques in her classroom has received top honours at a national award ceremony.

From transforming her classroom into an alien landscape, to dressing up as characters such as Batman and using Tai Chi techniques in her lessons to focus pupils, Kelly Steeples has been praised for her unique teaching style and voted ‘New Teacher of the Year’ at the national teaching awards, reports BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-11661224

From government plans to make the biggest spending cuts in decades, to a head teacher who left his pupils digesting an assembly with a difference, and a former-model-turned-teacher who has been declared too attractive for the classroom, we take our regular delve in to the papers, to see what lessons are being learnt in the world of education. Take time out to join us, and have your say, over on our blog pages.

Financial pressure grows for teachers

Chancellor George Osborne this month outlined his much anticipated budget-cutting measures, proclaimed to be the toughest in decades. But what will they mean for the education sector?

While overall, education has fared better than other areas, and cash for pupils is set to rise by just £4billion over the next four years, in real terms this represents an increase of just 0.1% once inflation is taken into account, reports the Daily Mirror. 

According to the paper, schools will now face huge financial pressures with the tiny increase in classroom funding totally out-weighed by the dramatic cuts in spending on other areas of education.

Teaching unions have attacked the planned cuts, saying they will have a devastating impact for schools.

Morning Miss….World

Heads at a Catholic school in Milan are under pressure to fire a female teacher because of her good looks and former life as a model, reports The Metro. 

The paper quotes one worried parent who describes the former beauty queen as ‘too sexy’ and a distraction for pupils.  Ileana Tacconelli, a former Miss Abruzzo in Italy, gave up modelling to pursue a career in teaching. She is reported to have the support of the school’s head teacher and a father who has created a fan club in her honour.

Running wild in the ‘malls’

Teachers may soon be given the power to suspend, expel or give detentions to pupils who are caught misbehaving outside of school grounds, reports the Daily Telegraph. 

Education Secretary Michael Gove spelled out the plans at a recent party conference held in Birmingham, saying the move would give heads the freedom they need to keep pupils in line, even if the anti-social behaviour was taking place outside of schools and in town centres.

Teachers Face the Book over social networking

At least three teachers in New York have been fired for inappropriate dealings with pupils on social networking site Facebook, one of which led to a sexual relationship, reports Daniel Bates in the Daily Mail. While some American states have introduced guidelines on how teachers may use social networking in relation to pupils, New York currently has none. This article questions how social networking sites may fall in to a grey area in the relationship between teacher and pupil.

It figures for DoE

A recent Department of Education (DoE) report has been causing a stir across the media. According to their figures, one in six pupils are falling behind in maths and English and failing to make the progress they are expected to.

The report, highlighted by Graeme Paton in the Daily Telegraph, suggests boys are struggling more with English, and girls with maths.

But despite the doom and gloom, the report shows there has been a slight  improvement on the findings of previous years.

A series of reforms have been pledged to try and improve standards in primary education.  One measure being considered is a reading test introduced for all pupils aged six, to help to try and identify those struggling the most at a young age. And for readers, a bigger emphasis may be placed on phonics techniques, which break words down into individual sounds.

Picking up on the gender differences further, Laura Clark writing in the Daily Mail  reports that girls appear to be racing ahead in the early years. Sixteen per cent of boys are reportedly unable to write their name and simple words such as ‘mum’ and ‘dad’ by the time they reach the end of primary school reception classes at the age of five.

Boys are also apparently falling behind girls in matters of writing and concentration, two other key areas of development.

A lesson In classroom management

Shop assistants are given more training on how to deal with angry customers than teachers are on how to deal with unruly pupils, is a warning that has been made by educationalists, reports BBC News. 

The group, made of psychologists and unions, raised their concerns at the Commons education committee’s first session of an inquiry into behaviour and discipline in schools in England. They voiced worries that teacher training courses do not cover enough ground on classroom management, or child development.

And finally…..

Bitesized lesson comes with eight legs..

A head teacher from Orpington in Kent bit off more than he could chew, when he stunned pupils and teachers by eating a baked tarantula in front of a packed assembly.

Mr Onac, headteacher at St Olave’s Grammar School, bravely undertook the bitesized stunt to help raise money for a new sports and drama centre for the school. But sceptical parents remain divided over the appropriateness of the feat, according to the Press Association. 

Your view: how deep will the cuts into education really go? Can you be too attractive to teach? Can teachers control behaviour outside of school? What are the dangers of social networking sites? Are primary schools failing boys? Can lessons be learned from retailers on how to manage unruly pupils? And was eating a baked tarantula creative teaching at its best, or just too shocking for a young audience? Over to you…