Emirates pledge `zero-tolerance’ approach to proms

The United Arab Emirates has announced that it will take a “zero-tolerance” approach to graduation parties in private schools, declaring that they must abide by the values and traditions of the state’s society. Education minister Humaid Mohammad Al Qutami said in a statement that his ministry would punish any school where “prom” parties were found to violate the conservative UAE’s acceptable codes of conduct, the website of Gulf News reported.

Royal Society calls for teens to study Stem to 18

All young people should study maths and science until the age of 18, the Royal Society says. In a major report released this week, the society recommends that “rigorous” post-16 courses in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) should be developed for students who are studying non-Stem subjects or training in the workplace. The organisation, which is calling for the introduction of a new “baccalaureate-style” qualification, says teachers should have a greater role in assessing achievement, with more emphasis on practical work. Schools should also build awareness of scientific careers by bringing students into contact with professionals in the Stem sector, the report adds.

More pupils miss out on first-choice secondaries

The number of children failing to be admitted to their chosen secondary school has risen in England, new figures show. Around one in seven 11-year-olds (77,100) did not get an offer from their first-choice school, down 1.5 per cent on last year, the Department for Education said. Pupils in London were the least likely to get into their preferred secondary school, with 29.8 per cent not receiving a first-choice offer.

School to build replica First World War trench

One of the country’s leading boarding schools is to mark the centenary of the beginning of the First World War by building a full-size replica of a trench on its grounds. The Trench Trail project at Haileybury in Hertfordshire will give pupils and other visitors the chance to experience what life was like on the front and will include duckboards, gas curtains, Enfield rifles and even a regimental aid post. The building work, which will cover two acres, is being overseen by military historian Andrew Robertshaw and is scheduled to start on 4 August, marking 100 years since Great Britain declared war on Germany. According to Russell Matcham, the teacher who is leading the project, the idea for the trench arose because Haileybury was one of a handful of boarding schools that included trench digging as part of its curriculum in 1914 and 1915. For First World War teaching resources, visit www.tesconnect.comFirstWorldWar

New York group will challenge teacher tenure

Parents in New York are preparing to challenge state laws that make it expensive and time-consuming to sack underperforming teachers. A new group argues that teacher tenure and seniority laws violate children’s constitutional right to a sound basic education. Group founder Campbell Brown, a former CNN anchor, said six students had agreed to serve as plaintiffs. The campaign comes after a Los Angeles judge overturned California’s laws on tenure and seniority, saying they disproportionately affected poor and minority pupils.