Put film in the frame, says producer

Cinema should be given the same status in the classroom as English literature, the producer of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Les Misrables and the Bridget Jones films told TES. “If you think of every aspect of literature, from trash to high literature, film is exactly the same,” Eric Fellner said. “It deals with all human emotions. But it’s very much seen as a secondary form of storytelling.” Mr Fellner is the chair of Into Film, a new charity that encourages schools to provide opportunities for pupils to view, discuss and make films. The Into Film Festival is on 4-21 November and will be accompanied by resources published on the TES website. Go to www.intofilm.org or www.tesconnect.comintofilm

Could you win $1m Global Teacher Prize?

The deadline is approaching for teachers worldwide to enter a $1 million (pound;620,000) competition. The Varkey Gems Foundation Global Teacher Prize will be awarded to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. The final closing date is 5 October and the winner will be announced at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai in March 2015. Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey, who sits on the judging panel, said: “When I was starting out, I was inspired by an older, more experienced actor, who told me that he thought I ought to go into acting professionally. That’s the kind of mentoring and personal support that every young person needs to realise their potential.” For more information, go to www.globalteacherprize.org

Doctors fear Ebola outbreak in Nigerian schools

Health leaders in Nigeria have opposed a government decision to reopen schools while further cases of the Ebola virus are suspected in the country. The Nigerian Medical Association said the decision to open schools on 22 September risked triggering an outbreak, according to local media reports. The association argued that schools should remain closed until December, or even January, because an outbreak in a school “would assume another dimension”. World Health Organisation figures from Monday show that 19 cases of Ebola have been confirmed in Nigeria.

Australian stress study will scan teachers’ brains

Up to 200 teachers in Australia will be given vitamin supplements and have their brains scanned as part of a trial aimed at tackling teacher stress. It is hoped that the findings could help employers to reduce health-related compensation claims, the Herald Sun reports. Participants in the six-month study by Swinburne University of Technology will take a multivitamin rich in B vitamins. Scientists will monitor their blood pressure and heart rates and measure compounds in the blood that are linked to stress. Some teachers will also undergo MRI scans to see how their brains perform during cognitive tests.

Academies conference asks: what next?

The Independent Academies Association awards dinner and conference, entitled Life After Gove, will be held in London next month. The networking event, for the leaders of primary and secondary academies and free schools, will take place on 9 October at the Park Plaza Riverbank hotel. The programme includes topical keynote addresses, round-table discussions and workshop sessions. To book your place, visit www.iaa.uk.net