Plans to create a £3.5m centre of creativity for young people in Northumberland have come a step closer.

Designs for the Tynedale Creative and Media Skills Centre - next to Prudhoe Community High School - have gone on public display.

The centre will house state-of-the-art media production facilities in a leading edge building shared across the Tynedale Virtual College - a partnership of the four high schools in the area along with Northumberland College, Dilston College and Hexham Priory School.

A factory shop has chosen a local nursery as its charity partner.

The Original Factory Shop, in Prudhoe, will be making a difference to St Matthew's Nursery, also in Prudhoe, throughout this year.

A programme of fundraising activities is planned, and store staff are looking to raise a minimum of £500, with the fun kicking off with special launch this weekend.

Store manager Lisa Clark said: "This weekend, customers will have the chance to join in the fun in store to help us raise as much money as we can for this worthy cause."

Click below to view exam and test results tables for Prudhoe schools:

Prudhoe Community High School - GCSE (2009), Post-16 (2009)

Highfield Middle School - Key Stage 2 (2009)
Ovingham Middle School - Key Stage 2 (2009)

Comparative tables for Northumberland schools: Key Stage 2, GCSE, Post-16

List of school closures in Northumberland due to the snow »>

Northumberland County Council alerts and reminders »

Prudhoe weather links »

It's not the teachers the pupils need to watch out for at this North East school... but the life-size Dalek roaming the corridors.

Teacher and Doctor Who fan, Neil Cole, has kitted out his classroom with props and characters from his favourite TV show.

Neil, who is head of ICT at Ovingham Middle School, near Prudhoe, has no trouble making sure his pupils behave in his lessons.

A talented Prudhoe teenager is reaching for the bright lights of London after her first big break.

Natalie Hall beat off hundreds of others in auditions for the London Academy for Performing Arts, near Bayswater, and also won a scholarship.

The 18-year-old, who trains at the Tyne Theatre Stage School, at Newcastle College, is jumping for joy after hearing the news.

Young movie-makers from the Tyne Valley are celebrating after learning their work has been shortlisted for top awards at an international film festival.

Talented six and seven-year-olds from Wylam First School have created a film called The Hungry Robot (click on the link below to watch).

The film has been nominated for "Best Emerging Talent" and "Audience Award" at Fresh-Flix - the title of the young people's section of the Encounters Film Festival, which is being staged in Bristol from November 17 to 21.

A teacher from a small, rural school in Northumberland has been given a national role on her profession's governing body.

The General Teaching Council, which is the professional body for teaching across England, has appointed Rebecca Kroese, from Wylam First School, in the Tyne Valley.

Rebecca will attend her first council meeting later this month and will be in post for the next four years.

Wylam First School have made two funny silent films for The Co-operative Young Film-Makers Festival, where they will be the youngest entrants. (Read related story »)

Pupils aged five and six worked in conjunction with Newcastle-based independent producer Arpeggio Films to create shorts called The Hungry Robot and A Silly Man Goes Fishing. Open the article to watch.

Schoolchildren as young as five have been chosen to take part in a national film festival alongside people three times their age.

Pupils from Wylam First School were invited to showcase two of their films at the Co-operative Young Filmmakers 2009 Festival after judges enjoyed the quality of their work. They will be the youngest there.

Wylam First School cameraman Alex Buckle, 6

The children came up with the ideas, produced story boards, acted in and directed the films and then edited them, learning all about the equipment and technical terminology.