By Julia Budniak

When you look back at your own childhood, what is it, that you remember? We’ll each have our own answers, of course, but I suspect that a common thread will be having the time and space to play.

Every school in England should set up a council so pupils can have a voice on the appointment of teachers and running the school, a Commons committee says.

The education select committee's report said school councils helped pupils take part in democratic debate.

School inspectors in England are warning of weaknesses in the first years of learning - with literacy and calculation "particular problems".

Ofsted has examined a range of educational settings for three to five-year-olds, including schools, nurseries and children's centres.

Pupils who opt for "easier" subjects such as sport or drama rather than sciences or languages could achieve higher GCSE grades, research suggests.

A Durham University study concludes some subjects are easier than others - because of the way exams are graded.

Independent schools in England and Wales will soon have to prove how they provide a public benefit if they wish to retain their charitable status.

The armed forces, schools and the NHS could cut their food bills by £220m if they were better at doing deals, MPs have reported.

School leaders say some secondary schools in deprived areas of England receive less funding per pupil than those in better-off areas.

Calculations by the Association of School and College Leaders suggest the difference could be £270,000 a year for an averagesize school of 900 pupils.

Head teachers are increasingly vulnerable and some lose jobs because their faces do not fit, school leaders have suggested. School and college heads were told vulnerability, responsibility and accountability had all increased.

Microsoft, Enterprise MPC in collaboration with the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), and European Governments, have been working together on a Learning Gateway solution which is now running across primary schools in Europe.

Young teenagers are being encouraged to take more interest in science and engineering with support announced for after-school clubs.

The Department for Education and Skills is providing £5m to fund science clubs in 250 secondary schools in England.

Faith schools which operate their own admissions have higher educational standards, research suggests.

An institute at the London School of Economics has published a study of school choice, using a sample of 200,000 pupils in England.

Asupplement containing fatty acids may help children do better at school.

Tests of VegEPA, in four overweight youngsters, showed improvement in reading, concentration, and memory.

Boys tend not to join choirs because they think their singing voices "do not sound like boys", research suggests.

Dr Martin Ashley of the University of the West of England says they associate "boy" bands with adult voices.

Explore how archives services and schools can work together best to deliver the demands of the contemporary curriculum.

Rugby School, in Warwickshire, has achieved a significant improvement in the quality of its sports pitches and cut mowing by a quarter thanks to an investment in a range of Toro machinery.

With over three hundred delegates, the annual Scientific & Chemical (SciChem) Educational, Environmental and Health & Safety seminars being held at Haydock Park, represent the largest laboratory technician training event in the UK this year.

AF International, the popular choice for classroom and office equipment cleaning products, not only offered visitors even better choice and value for money at this year’s Education Show but also the chance to help a worthy cause – Barnardo’s.

Network solutions provider Olympic Communications is proving itself as a forerunner in the Education sector by offering unique solutions in the bid to make our schools and colleges safer.

The issue of faith schools will not be easily resolved and with some of the main players entrenching and strengthening their own positions, ATL is advocating a ‘best-fit’ solution within the current context. We believe that the right kind of question at this time (to paraphrase the theologian Miroslav Volf) is not about how to achieve the final reconciliation but what resources we need to live in peace in its absence.

Making the move from primary to secondary school is probably one of the most stressful events in a child’s educational career. It is the first step toward being a “grown-up” and the gateway to the other big stresses to come, GCSEs, A Levels and perhaps even further education.

Is there too much ICT in our classrooms? Are teachers under too much pressure to turn lessons into Disney animations, at the cost of traditional skills such as handwriting and arithmetic? These are the questions being asked in some quarters of the education industry.

ICT is definitely the buzz word in education at the moment. New technology presents teachers with endless opportunities. For many schools, trying to identify the right solution is a daunting task. The range of products available is mind blowing and it is vital to ensure that budgets are spent as effectively as possible.

Northgate Education has announced that it has become the first provider of ICT managed services to the education sector, including the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, to be certified for excellence in service delivery from the British Standards Institution (BSI).

3Com and Capita .ict have announced a strategic partnership to provide inspiring ICT solutions for schools. Capita .ict, part of Capita Education Services, will become 3Com’s lead Educational Partner. Both are committed to helping schools build educational networks for the future.

Wireless technology pioneer 802.UK, recently acquired by Deverill Ltd, is offering free advice to help school teachers and school IT staff across the UK learn more about state of the art Second Generation Wireless technology and IT mobility within schools. This rapidly developing technology offers a huge array of benefits for educational environments, from primary schools to universities.

Written by Charlotte Lewis – Senior Advisor, Marketing for Schools

Disc Makers offer a wide range of services to help schools and colleges thrive in a competitive market. They have carried out detailed, costeffective research in this market and have a clear understanding of the education sector. Successful brand building requires establishing an identity for your school. Where strong brand identity can be developed, it will create an advantageous position in the minds of potential parents and students. Disc Makers marketing expertise can ensure your success in attracting the right pupils.

Pre-school children just love the soft forms, fun and safety of Lollipop by washroom provider, Armitage Venesta.

Gopak’s latest addition – the Postura range of chairs and desks - are virtually indestructible and come with a market leading 10 Year Guarantee.

Education construction specialist, Yorkon – winner of the Innovator of the Year Award – has launched a new guide to the expanded range of design options and technical advancements for teaching facilities built using its modular building system.

The joint forces of a group of Oxfordshire villagers have revolutionised education for the community’s youngest members.

After huge fund-raising efforts the village school in Longworth now has a nursery in its grounds and a new action-packed play area for the pre-school and reception pupils.

OCR, one of the UK’s leading providers of qualifications, is helping teachers at schools and colleges around the country prepare for new style A Levels which will be taught from next year.

This book explores in depth the techniques and materials used in the construction of baskets, demystifying basketry and giving a basis for understanding, appreciating and identifying the baskets of the world.

This book is a practical, hands-on guide and should be essential reading for teaching professionals at every level wanting an accessible and engaging introduction to the concept of coaching and the tools needed to put it into practice.

Versatility and all round performance make resin flooring an ideal choice for schools, says Linda Briffett of interior surfaces specialists Altro.