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.

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."

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Switching off lights and machinery were just some of the messages of a series of colourful, eco-friendly posters, designed by the children of staff at paper maker SCA Hygiene in Prudhoe.

SCA factory and site manager Tony Richards with the children and their posters

The youngsters were challenged by SCA, which produces the Velvet brand of toilet tissue, to create a poster which would help to raise environmental awareness and energy conservation at the plant.

But it's a defining moment nine-year-old Megan Armstrong's parents thought she'd never see.

Megan, who is battling a brain tumour, is to set to start at Highfield Middle School in Prudhoe in September.

When she started at her previous school, Mickley First School, her parents Philip and Sandra, both 41, were not sure how much more time they would have with her.

Megan's mum Sandra, of Prudhoe, said: "It's such a big step for Megan, going to middle school - it's a real milestone that we never thought we'd reach.

Kieran Jorgensen from Duchess's Community High School, Alnwick with his dice design

The competition for Northumberland schools is organised by the Rotary Club of Hexham and recognises the best in invention and innovation.

The high school students will be competing at the Alnwick Garden Pavilion tomorrow evening in the final of the Northumberland Enterprise Learning Network challenge for school-based companies.

The teams will champion their individual business ventures in a range of categories to a judging panel including Garden managing director Mike Dukes and County Durham estate agent and recent Apprentice contestant, Philip Taylor.

The motor of the future has been developed at Sunderland University and was brought along to the school as part of the youngsters' green studies.

From left: Chloe Sayer, Ruary Irons, Abi Richards and Sam Henderson from Ovingham First School

The school has an Eco Council whose members are working with staff to cut the carbon footprint of the school and think about what they can do to protect the planet.