The share of pupils in England's schools speaking English as a second language has risen to a record high, government figures show.

The number of vacant teaching posts in England's schools went up by almost a quarter in the past year, figures show. The number of unfilled jobs was 2,510 in January or 0.7% of the total workforce, up 470 or 23% from 2007.

A comprehensive school is employing its sixth formers to deliver occasional lessons to younger pupils.

Head teachers are warning of "doubts and uncertainties" that could undermine this year's introduction of the Diploma qualification in England.

English teachers who went to school when grammar was not on the curriculum struggle to teach it, research shows.

An inquiry into what is taught in England's primary schools is to be widened to look at how children with dyslexia should be supported.

The leader of the National Association of Head Teachers  has said some parents "dump" their children on schools for up to 10 hours a day.

The UK's leading online education recruitment service eteach.com has thrown its support behind Try Learning @ The Twickenham Stoop. The new venture provides study centres for Year 5 to 8 students (ages 10-14) to learn after school.

One in 10 governors' posts are vacant at schools in England, according to the latest government research.

Children often don't know how to talk to teachers and other adults about their personal problems, finds a ChildLine poll.

The Pilot Pen Company has recently teamed up with Long Eaton School, a specialist science college and Eco-School, in Derbyshire, to work on a marketing-led research project.

It is now a given that the use of projectors and AV equipment has significantly enhanced the learning experience in schools and colleges. However, the benefit of using colour in printed documents to give visual emphasis and impact is often overlooked.

OCR, a leading UK awarding body, will hold four FREE GCSE changes Expo events in Coventry, London, Manchester and Newcastle throughout June and July to provide essential knowledge and support for those teachers involved in implementing the changes to GCSEs.

As the end of term approaches and the hectic timetables are steadily replaced by the relative calm of summer, the question is, how are you going to enjoy your summer break?

The charity Computer Aid International is appealing to the UK education sector to help meet an urgent need for IT access in schools, colleges and universities in the developing world.

A fantastic range of entertaining, brain-challenging software that helps children improve their literacy and numeracy skills, is now available from Formjet.

Leading educational publisher, PDC Education Ltd, has launched www.free-eds.co.uk, an online one-stop-shop listing free, inspirational primary and secondary school teaching resources.

GOAL Graveney School in Tooting, South London, is heavily dependent on connected IT for class work and registration but its wireless network was proving unreliable. The school needed a way to manage the network so it could become a failsafe foundation for its considerable IT infrastructure.

Yamaha Music UK Ltd has launched an exciting new educational resource, Yamaha Education Friends, a place where teachers, groups and music education practitioners can connect, interact and collaborate with each other. With Yamaha's core aim of attracting more people into music-making, this new site will support teachers in doing just that, by helping them to share ideas, problems and solutions with other teaching colleagues throughout the UK.

Tollbar Business and Enterprise College is one of just 36 schools in the country to be made a member of an elite high-performing schools' club.

Velcro Ltd., the company behind the original VELCRO® brand hook and loop fastener, offers an extensive range of quick and simple solutions for the education market, ideal for teachers who wish to create a fun, interactive and safe learning environment.

In every class there are always some students who just don't get the point of the lesson. In many subjects, students find it is not too hard to make up the bits of the syllabus that they have failed to grasp.

The nation's youth, parents and teachers are miserable, for exam season is upon us once again. But this year, there has been a bigger outcry than usual with claims that the nation's children are being tested too much, too often. Add to this problems with exam scheduling, computer glitches, and accusations of "teaching to test" and the whole sorry business looks set to make everyone even more unhappy.

Akhter are the first British brand with an "All-in-One" PC, that has earned the latest ENERGY STAR® 4.0 qualification in the integrated computer category. Energy Star 4.0 is the environmental standard mandated across the EU, for public-sector purchasing of computers. Despite numerous claims to being eco-friendly and power efficient, few PCs actually qualify under Energy Star 4.0, which is the most challenging environmental standard to date.

There are a myriad products and services available to schools in need of some tender loving care - but where to start? Stephanie Norbury says it's all a matter of priority.

City of Sunderland College Usworth Sixth Form Centre on Stephenson Road in Washington, part of City of Sunderland College, has scooped the top award at the Further Education Design Excellence Awards 2008.

As part of the Government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative to create inspirational learning facilities for the twenty-first century, a great deal of focus has been given to the extensive new-build programme that is underway.  New schools, built to new designs and specifications, make it much easier for local authorities to implement an ongoing maintenance programme but what about the current building stock?  The development of an effective and cyclical redecoration programme can help to breathe new life into these older buildings but it's also vital that any maintenance programmes are both manageable and affordable. 

Twyford Bushboard makes choosing your next secondary school, college or university washroom so easy and practical.

CFS Carpets has supplied textile and fibre bonded carpets and carpet tiles into hundreds of educational establishments for over 25 years. Ranges such as Chinook and New Typhoon broad and narrow rib fibre bonded products have become firm favourites with contractors and specifiers throughout the UK. CFS Carpets also has several ranges of extremely hard wearing textile carpets and carpet tiles that are suitable for use in communal areas, staff rooms and halls of residence. CFS Carpets products are regularly specified in large universities and City Academies.

Packexe continue to be the market leader for protection film!

Yorkon, has launched a series of design options for ‘greener' modular buildings:

• Solar thermal heating - these systems harness energy from the sun to generate heating to provide hot water, and can reduce bills by up to 50%.

Ledaire Fabrications has expanded its range of kitchen ventilation systems and confirmed that they meet the requirements of the latest British Standard 6173 and the HVCA Kitchen Ventilation Systems Standard DW 172.

Armitage Shanks launch an exciting array of sophisticated and innovative products that will provide specifiers with the tools and products they need to create school washrooms for the 21st Century.  When it comes to designing school washrooms Armitage Shanks' latest products address the needs of children in terms of privacy, hygiene and safety.  Alongside the product launch is the launch of a new range of specifier brochures which provide advice, design plans and guidance on current building regulations and how Part M applies to schools. 

David Gatfield, Technical Services Manager at interior surfaces specialist Altro, discusses the importance of establishing a cleaning and maintenance programme in educational buildings

Construction activity will always present health and safety risks, however, with increasing initiatives and creative activities contractors can be involved in ensuring children are safety-wise at school.

A £7m refurbishment has turned a Derbyshire school from a run-down concrete campus into a state-of-the-art specialist arts college incorporating performing, visual and media arts - with exemplary teaching and learning facilities.

With over 50 years' experience, Gopak is a market leading supplier of quality stackable products - from tables and chairs to staging - and now its stylish range has just extended. Bringing even more finesse to the UK's seating options, the Fairfield chair line is head and shoulders above the competition in looks, functionality and form.

The PremierPlus from Premier Interlink is one of the most innovative and flexible modular building systems.  It is fast and economical to construct. This new system's excellent thermal and acoustic performance radically reduces a building's carbon footprint, increases comfort levels and significantly reduces ‘through life' maintenance costs.

Whether it is the worlds lightest laptop, thinnest TV bezel or short throw projection, Toshiba leads innovation. This technology is not necessarily for the rich and famous. It is incorporated in products for day to day use and to fit into the tightest ICT budget.

Young learners from across Stirling have demonstrated the potential for using learner response systems beyond formal assessment as part of Stirling Council's Curriculum for Excellence initiative. Taking technology out of the classroom, the pioneering Primary 5 to 7 pupils used the Promethean Activote learner response system to encourage whole group participation at the ‘Mysteries Incorporated - Celebrations of Success Conference', a child-led event that enables educationalists to share learning practices and recognise the achievements of pupils.

Audio Visual solutions provider revamps major lecture theatre to provide students with fully automated cinematic and presentation facilities

All Saints Church of England Primary School in Chatham, Kent, is utilising two SCP712 modular projection systems from 3M, the diversified technology company. The systems feature revolutionary Vikuiti Super Close Projection technology to present bright and engaging content even when used in rooms of different layouts and sizes.

Two new models join Victor's extensive range of popular Bains Marie hot cupboards.  Larger in size, the new Baron and Baroness units have fully insulated, double skinned construction - offering a significant reduction in power consumption, and cool to the touch exterior walls.

These new Tamperproof Chairs from library furniture and resources supplier, LFC, are specifically designed for demanding educational environments with minimal loose parts for busy hands to play with.

Advanced Hygienic Cladding's maintenance-free rigid PVC wall cladding system has been installed throughout the large new kitchen area of Gateshead College at the Baltic Business Centre.

Sharp introduces four new desktop multifunctional document systems designed for small offices and workgroups. The AR-M201, AR-M201F & AR-M201RN are packed with versatile features in a compact desktop design. The AL-2060 is a truly simple yet powerful desktop that fits into any home or small office environment

Illustrations by Douglas Puder MD
Jessica Kingsley Publishers hardback £14.99

This concise and highly accessible book contains everything that parents and busy professionals need to know about ADHD.

by David Emmett and Graeme Nice
Jessica Kingsley Publishers paperback £35

This is a resource for use with children aged between eight and twelve years. It comprises exercises centred on illegal drug use, medicine use and safety, solvents, alcohol, tobacco, crime and other ant-social and risky activities.

by Carmel Cefai
JKP Books paperback £15.99

Resilience is a set of qualities that enable children to adapt and transform, to overcome risk and adversity, and to develop social competence, problem-solving skills, autonomy and a sense of purpose. For children and young people it is as vital to possess these qualities in school environments as in the family and the community at large.

Continuum paperback £12.99

This book demonstrates how teachers can bring all the benefits of Emotional Intelligence into their classrooms.