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The article discusses the new approach being followed with regards to religious education (RE) by the Cooper's Company and Coborn School, a non-denominational Christian secondary school in Essex, England. The main aim is to make learning of other faiths and religions interesting and understandable for students.

Research reveals history's declining popularity as a stand-alone subject at GCSE, while independent and grammar schools report a sharp rise in the number of students taking history. Academics are concerned that the divide between the two sectors is a result of differences in perception of the status of the subject.

Byline: Yojana Sharma China is tightening up the licensing of China-based agents for overseas universities, with the sector sullied in recent years by allegations of falsified documentation and 'conveyor belt' [...]

Byline: Yojana Sharma This is an article from University World News (http://www.universityworldnews.com/), an online publication that covers global higher education. It is presented here under an agreement with The Chronicle. [...]

Byline: Yojana Sharma This is an article from University World News (http://www.universityworldnews.com/), an online publication that covers global higher education. It is presented here under an agreement with The Chronicle. [...]

Results of a European Union (EU)-wide study by the EU Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) have revealed that language teachers are failing to take advantage of social networking, and also perceive it as threat to their classroom authority. However, there are several teachers who feel that there is a growing grassroots network of teachers who use online interactive, collaborative and social media to teach modern languages.

The offering of a language by 92% of the primaries in the United Kingdom has led to the unlocking of barriers of language. The importance of knowledge of a foreign language and advantages it offers for those seeking gainful employment are highlighted.

Scientists have now found that doing mathematics involves several parts of the brain and thus teachers need to use new approaches to teach mathematics to students who struggle with the subject. Research suggests that playing computer games is a predictor of ability to learn mathematics.

The increasing popularity of citizenship among pupils as a GSCE subject is discussed. Although some experts believe that citizenship is not academic enough to be an A-level course, the active content of the subject makes it popular among pupils as it gives them an opportunity to be actively involved in key issues of the community.

The article explores the hurdles that students encounter once they leave school due to poor numeracy skills. A lack of understanding and a system which does not impart skills to solve difficult mathematical problems but only routine ones, is affecting the numeracy levels among students.

Brixton's Iqra School follows the national curriculum and is the U.K.'s first Muslim school to achieve voluntary aided, state-funded status since the London bombings of 2005. Headteacher Firdos Qazi calls for more such schools to give the Muslim community the same educational options as are given to other religions.

Andrew Hall is head of Liverpool's Caldey Grange Grammar, one of the few specialist schools promoting Mandarin and Chinese culture among students. He discusses the students' progress and the concept of the 'Confucius' classroom.

The hurdles associated with recruiting of headteachers, which seems to be a global phenomenon are discussed.

U.K. schools are employing business managers to handle their increasingly complex financial demands as well as administrative issues such as facilities management and human resources.

Tibetan teachers are worried that the ongoing unrest against the country's Chinese rulers will negatively impact efforts to teach students in their native language rather than in Chinese.

The efforts of the British government to tackle workplace stress that teachers and heads of schools experience are presented.

The article debates the issue of whether school headteachers' management skills entitle them to a salary equivalent to that earned by a small, private sector company's chief executive officer. School leaders feel that the number of students on the roster should not determine salaries as heads face increased responsibilities.

The UK government is hoping its dramatic announcement of 1.4 billion pounds of new aid by 2008 for girls' education in poor countries will galvanize support for the worldwide drive to get every child into school. It has pledged to put Africa at the top of the agenda during its presidency of the G8 in 2005 and hopes that its announcement will inspire other countries to contribute.

Global differences exist in the teaching of sex education in schools in a world where over 50 percent of young people are sexually active by the time they are 17 years old. Article considers sex education in several countries, including Japan, Italy, the US, Kenya, Argentina and Sweden.

Some 4,500 pupils studied Mandarin to GSCE level in 2005, up 40% from 2,400 in 2000. However, if the subject was more widely offered in schools, the number would be even larger.

An overview of the international placements scheme for school principals, which is funded by the National College for School Leadership and run in partnership with the British Council. Those who have taken part in the week-long placements describe them as significant opportunities broaden horizons and develop new leadership skills.

An overview of efforts by Charmain Hartley, international co-ordinator at Hove Park school in East Sussex, to bridge gaps between groups, nations and cultures by providing her school's students with international aspect to their education. Hartley's efforts have seen the school develop links with 13 countries and the school receive the first TES/HSBC International School of the Year award.

An account of the EuroJam scout jamboree that took place at Hylans Park in Chelmsford, England, between 29 July and 10 August 2005. More that 10,000 Scouts and Guides from across Europe attended the jamboree, providing opportunities for cultural exchange.

An analysis of the economic, political and social impact of membership of the EU on the organisation's 25 members. Issues examined include the relative financial contributions of the EU's members, the impact on trade, worker's rights, freedom to travel, foreign policy and law and order.

An analysis of the eTwinning scheme launched by the EU Commission in 2005. The eTwinning scheme is a computer-based schools partnership programme that enables schools across Europe to find partner schools for projects both large and small, helping schools with their studies in areas such as culture and languages.

An analysis of how a school in the London borough of Lambeth is trying to emulate a pioneering parental involvement scheme run by schools in Uganda. The aim of the Ugandan scheme is to help improve both adult literacy and the educational performance of primary school students. Rachel Holmes, key stage 2 co-ordinator at Hurley special school in Lambeth, believes that the scheme's hands-on approach could be used with children with profound learning difficulties.

An overview of the Dreams and Teams project, run jointly by the British Council and the Youth Sports Trust, which links young people from the UK with their peers from one of 20 countries and helps them to learn leadership skills by co-organising sporting events. Under the scheme, Manor school, a specialist sports college in Northamptonshire, has linked up with River Plate school and Southern Cross school, both bilingual English-Spanish school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to organise a sports festival for people with disabilities.

Jude Kelly, theatre director and chair of the 2012 advisory committee for culture and education, analyses the cultural impact the 2012 could have on London, England. It is contended that, no matter where they are held, Olympics bring the world's many culture together, making internationalism and citizenship real and exciting.

Nursery age children in Liverpool, UK, are being taught modern languages by mother-tongue speakers as part of the city's drive to invest heavily in nursery and primary language learning. A total of 10 schools are teaching modern languages at nursery level upwards for at least three lessons per week, while all 160 primary schools are offering language teaching to Year 5 and 6 pupils. The pupils are able to learn a language through games and songs.

The Tic-Talk language project run from Cambridge University is helping teenagers from England, France, Canada and Senegal to communicate online with each other in English and French. The project makes use of the WebBoard, an Internet-based bulletin board, to enable teenagers to discuss things which they would not cover in their classrooms. The project is led by Dr Michael Evans, senior education lecturer at the university, who places topics for discussion onto the bulletin board around once per week.

UK and French schools are taking different approaches to the issue of dealing with the growing number of pupils who speak a different language as their first language. An Anglo-French exchange scheme organised by the British Council and the National College for School Leadership has enabled headteachers from schools in the UK and France to visit each other to see how they deal with the issues of language, cultural diversity and social integration.

Head teachers from schools in England and Finland have visited each other's schools in a project aimed at encouraging the exchange of ideas and expertise. The Finnish heads were impressed with the support given to new teachers in England, while the English heads were impressed with the freedom teachers in Finland are given to devise their own course content.

School life on the island of Groede, a small island in the North Sea, is profiled. The school only has two pupils and one teacher, who confesses her concerns about the isolation of her two pupils and their lack of opportunities to discuss subjects with people of their own age.