News from the Choppington area is now covered by a revamped Bedlington community website from The Journal.

Visit www.journallive.co.uk/bedlington to take a look at the improved pages, including a new layout, more useful local information, an events calendar, news from the wider county and an interactive map.

These pages are no longer being updated.

Community Wildlife is for projects that help people discover, enjoy and protect wildlife in their local area.

Now open to organisations including voluntary and community organisations, schools, town and parish councils, and statutory health authorities. Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available.

There is up to £2 million available across the UK and organisations can submit applications before the three deadlines of 21July, 22 September and the 24 November 2010.

For further details and to get an application form visit our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/communitywildlife, or call our helpline on:
0845 367 0610.
For more ideas for projects visit www.bbc.co.uk/wild

Children will be in for a treat if they brush their teeth properly.

More than 30 pupils aged five to eight from Ringway First School in Guidepost will be vying to win a trip to the Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth to see seals having their teeth brushed. All they need to do is take their brush to school and try to brush for the recommended two minutes without using a stopwatch.

The day is organised by Guidepost Dental Practice to encourage better brushing.

A major green drive to tackle the traffic congestion and air pollution caused by the daily school run in Northumberland has resulted in every school in the county getting on board.

Thousands more youngsters are now improving their health and fitness by walking or cycling to and from lessons each day, instead of being driven to the school gates in their parents' cars.

All 201 local education authority schools in Northumberland now have their own individual green travel plans - which means the county council has achieved its Government-set target of having them in place by March this year.

Schools across Northumberland are facing job cuts due to a funding shortfall described as one of the worst of recent years.

A number of high schools in the county are considering redundancies while others will not be replacing staff who leave.

Headteachers, governors and teaching unions have spoken out about the job losses, which have been blamed on a mixture of local and national factors.

Pupils learned what life was like 500 years ago on a field trip.

Students in Year Six from West Sleekburn Middle School Primary Unit visited Woodhorn Museum as part of a history project on the Tudors. While at the museum the children took part in three workshops which helped them to experience what daily life was like nearly 500 years ago.

They explored the recreated parlour and kitchen and took part in role play activities involving preparing a Tudor banquet. Children also dressed up in Tudor clothes and took part in some traditional Tudor dances.

Lynne Mellor, co-ordinator of the Primary Unit said: "We encourage staff to arrange visits like these as they bring lessons to life as well as making for memorable experiences."

A bid to boost children's learning standards in deprived communities by creating Northumberland's third academy school have taken a significant step forward.

County council leaders have agreed to submit a "statement of intent" to the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) for an academy in Bedlington - which would be part of a schools reorganisation in the town.

Members of the Liberal Democrat executive have also agreed to earmark cash to fund the primary element of the shake-up in the authority's medium-term capital plan.

There are less than two weeks left for people to sign up for our fantastic Tokens for Schools competition.

The Journal, in partnership with Barclays Money Skills, has £20,000 to give away to schools across our region.

But time is running out to register to take part, so we are reminding people to fill in the form (see below) and be in with a chance to win some cash.

A number of schools in the region have already registered, including Cambo First School, in Cambo, near Morpeth (pictured). The prize money can be used to fund any educational project the school chooses - like a school trip, new books or a garden.

Councillors will today be asked to approve controversial plans to apply for a city academy to be set up to replace a secondary school.

Northumberland County Council's cabinet will meet this afternoon. Members are being recommended to approve proposals for an academy to be set up in Bedlington.

If approved, there will also be changes to other schools in the Bedlington Partnership.

School children who spent months raising money to fund their class trip have been left devastated after thieves swiped the entire collection.

Enterprising youngsters at Stakeford First School did odd jobs, washed cars, and sold hand-made Christmas cards to make more than £700 to help cover costs of their annual visit to the Robinwood Activity Centre, in Alston.

Morgan Brown from Stakeford First School

But thieves struck when the school was closed for the night, last week, and took every penny of the children's hard-earned cash.