This year the Quality Standard beef mince Young Chef Challenge with Celebrity Chef James Martin has been the most successful yet.

Ufi, the organisation behind government e-learning provider learndirect, has appointed THUS, a Cable&Wireless business, to deliver a six site MPLS IP VPN network for all of the organisation's data, internet and corporate systems, enhanced by a national ethernet solution between two key sites in Sheffield. 

The new points-based visa system for students will place additional responsibilities on UK institutions, but should be invisible to foreign students in the short term, according to leading provider of international education, Study Group.

Liberata, the company behind delays in students' education maintenance allowances, has lost its contract. The Learning and Skills Council said Capita, the company that formerly administered EMAs, would take on its full range of learner support services.

The inspirational combination of blue skies, winter sun and the beautiful French Cote d'Azur coastline plays host to the launch of Eteach International.

Increasing numbers of school children are suffering from bad backs because of ill-fitting chairs, a report says.

Head teachers' leaders say that teachers' fears about restraining violent pupils is behind the suspension of three and four-year-olds.

Successful GCSE students from Henry Compton Boys School, Fulham, have found out which of them is going on a life-changing expedition to India with youth and education charity Raleigh.

More than 1,500 children aged four and under were suspended from schools in England in the past year, figures show.

The use of a Gary Glitter song in a GCSE music assignment is being reviewed by England's largest exam board after a string of complaints.

White working class pupils should be given the same focused help as ethnic minorities have received, a study says.

Reality TV has been blamed for many things: not least fostering an apparently unquenchable yearning among schoolchildren to become celebrities.

A survey conducted across Europe suggests that young Britons are amongst the least interested in pursuing careers in science. Nearly 25,000 15-to-25-year-olds were interviewed comparing views across all 27 EU member states.

Hundreds of primary schools in England are to be rebuilt, after the government approved building plans worth £1.75bn.

Hundreds of schools in England classed as satisfactory by inspectors could do better, ministers say, and are to be urged to stretch their pupils more.

A mum of three is hoping to revolutionise the way education is funded in Britain by launching new a new social networking website aimed at school children and their parents.

The website, which has been named ‘Best Young Person's Website', presents independent advice and jobs aimed at helping school/college leavers who are considering not going to University.

The Conservative Party is promising to link exams in England to an international benchmark to ensure standards are maintained.

A college has given Tesco vouchers to help hard-up students waiting for their educational maintenance allowances.

More than half the population believe UK children behave like animals, a survey has suggested.

Schools are being urged to teach pupils about infection control as experts step up the fight against superbugs.

When the government charged Becta with reviewing and updating its Harnessing Technology strategy it was clear that something fundamental had changed: the challenge posed by educational technology was fast moving from provision of basic computing and network capabilities in schools and colleges to a more radical transformation of teaching and learning practice.

A policy commission organised by FIRA partners the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) and led by former Education Secretary Charles Clarke used FIRA's pioneering research into the growth of children since 1971 to urge schools to invest in furniture which was better suited to today's pupils.

Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies is helping hotels and university campuses specify the latest in electronic locking systems with a new website. It includes guides on the latest products in this sophisticated arena as well as a downloads and solutions areas. Developments in Electronic Locking have increased at a fast pace in recent years with the latest advents including SmartCards which can not only be used for access control but can also be linked to other services such as loyalty schemes and payment facilities.

Labour MP Yvette Cooper recently attended the FranklinCovey WOW event at Leeds United football ground where she, joined by over 250 students from Castleford High School Technology and Sports College, took part in an exciting introduction to FranklinCovey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers programme.

Leading and innovative playground designer and manufacturer Record RSS are pleased to announce a corporate charity partnership with Rainbow Trust Children's Charity. After meeting with various well known charities it was left to Record RSS staff to choose the charity they wished to support.

Academies are the flagship of the Labour education policy, designed to drive up standards in struggling education authorities by replacing failing schools. However, a report published last month accuses academies of covert selection as the number of poorer pupils attending these schools fell from 45 to 29 per cent.  Education Today looks at the academy dream and asks who exactly is benefiting?

The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme has brought construction and the condition of school buildings to the top of the education sector's agenda, with plans to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in England over the next 10-15 years.

Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, the UK's largest supplier of recycled modular buildings, has completed construction of a highly sustainable new school building in the London Borough of Brent, after only seven weeks on site.

King's College, London has slashed £200,000 from its annual cleaning bill following a total review of its methods and systems. Using the i-Clean^TM management system, in some areas the savings have been as high as 20%.

Specialist metal roofing manufacturer Alumasc, has provided all the components and technological expertise needed to achieve the advanced waveform metal roofs which give three new Lancashire school buildings their distinctive appearance.

Creating an inspirational educational environment, Greenford High School's maths and science department awakens the spirit of discovery in students and teachers alike.

We've all heard the old adage ‘children should be seen and not heard', but the reality is that groups of lively children are rarely silent. However, there are steps that schools can take to ensure that noise is minimised, says Patrick Lundie of interior surfaces specialists Altro.

Award-winning education construction specialist, Yorkon, has announced that as part of the Portakabin Group, it has achieved ISO 14001 accreditation - the internationally recognised standard for reducing impact on the environment.

More than 600m2 of Polyflor Sport 67 indoor sports flooring, complete with line markings, has been installed in the refurbished sports hall at Shevington High School in Wigan.

Bituchem Asphalt Ltd's Natratex has been specified to provide an attractive and cost effective surface solution for the pathways and amphitheatre at Bristol Metropolitan College.

Kruger Tissue has launched its own ‘Green Handprint' programme which is designed to educate employees and customers by example.

For a folding table there is no higher quality than the Premier folding tables, brought to the market by leading manufacturer, Gopak - a company with over 50 years experience.

A permanent modular building, designed and built by Terrapin for the Cippenham Nursery School and Children's Centre in Slough, has won top marks from the staff, parents and children who are now using the new facility. The L-shaped, single-storey structure provides a modern, energy efficient replacement for the old school building, with 440m2 of partitioned floor space to accommodate the nursery and a crèche, plus a kitchen, offices, medical room, toilets and baby changing facilities. 

Aura Corporation has recently provided classrooms at Alderwood Pupil Referral School in Ipswich with the Actulite polarised daylight lighting system, offering a quality of light identical to natural daylight for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

In the current economic climate budget savings are hugely important. Site security, although not an area where service should be compromised, can often be more cost effective. The Robowatch remote monitored CCTV system is free to install and costs from just £3.45 an hour to monitor, making it one of the most cost efficient site security solutions currently available. 

Developing a VLE Solution

All schools aim to provide access to e-learning resources both in and out of school. The challenge is to select the Virtual Learning Environment solution both for today and the future. There are various ways that can achieve the essential requirements, however the future of the VLE is evolving out of Microsoft SharePoint, which is managing access to numerous Microsoft and third party applications including Microsoft Sharepoint Learning Kit and Akhter's Vidflow - video on demand and broadcast solution, plus SIMS integration.

These books represent a reflective resource for individual teachers, schools and teacher training institutes to develop classroom practice.

This resource book provides a wealth of practical strategies for more effective teaching and learning, which can be used in the classroom tomorrow. The emphasis is on exciting, inclusive learning experiences which genuinely engage learners and raise motivation.

2009 marks the 25th anniversary of BETT, and as this landmark approaches, it continues to firmly position itself as the world's leading technology in education event by remaining as topical and relevant as ever. Held at London Olympia from the 14 - 17 January, BETT was first launched as the ‘Hi Technology and Computers in Education Exhibition' in January 1985. Originally featuring just 112 stands in two halls at the Barbican Exhibition Centre, London, the show grew, changed its name and now BETT attracts well over 600 exhibitors and almost 30,000 visitors - from teachers, to bursars, to local authorities, each wanting to gain a greater insight into the benefits that technology can offer.

The changing emphasis of modern education is presenting schools with a growing challenge to create a cohesive management plan that can offer sufficient flexibility to meet the needs of each learner.

Or as the team at SUSO have labelled the drink in national outdoor advertising this year, "FULL OF IT AND GOOD FOR NOTHING".  It is a headline that stops you in your tracks and makes you think for a minute (not least given how often such an expression seems to be directed at our UK youth these days). Provoking thought and debate does appear to be at the heart of SUSO whether in relation to the product or the brand idea - both of which the SUSO team are incredibly passionate about.

In the heart of any teacher is the aim to develop and inspire individuals and communities through engaging, educating and empowering students with theoretical knowledge and practical applicative skills.  Motivating and enthusing students to learn has always been a difficult task but Sony are providing the technology to connect and absorb students with solutions that fit into their personal interests.

It's that time of the year again....BETT 2009 is back and promises to be even bigger and better this year, especially for OKI Printing Solutions.

"Adobe strongly believes that an engaging learning experience is the basis for effective learning, says Liz Wilkins, Marketing Manager for Education at Adobe. "At BETT 2009 we will be demonstrating the latest version of the Adobe Digital School Collection which brings together state-of-the art software applications that help deliver the highest quality educational experience in all subject areas.

Bloxx, the web content filtering specialist, has announced that it will be exhibiting its third-generation web filtering technology at next year's BETT Show on Stand A86. Bloxx is attending the show to highlight the increasing need for educational institutions to have appropriate web filtering in place to manage Internet access and ensure a safe and productive learning environment, particularly amid the escalating use of anonymous proxies by students. 

NEC is renowned for delivering innovative and world-class IT, network & communication and display solutions to its global customer base. The education sector has its own specialised technology requirements, vital for achieving its goals and NEC has a proven track record of providing optimised solutions for this market.

Projectors in the education sector are typically in use for an average of six hours a day.  Like most hardware, projectors have a finite lifespan; and following the government's investment in digital projectors for education several years ago, many education establishments are now looking at replacing their original models.  However, technology developments now mean that replacing ‘like for like' isn't necessarily the best option.  Gareth Day, Product Marketing Manager at Sanyo, explains the factors to consider for any school or Further Education establishment about to embark on a projector upgrade.