The Academy at Shotton Hall in Peterlee has announced the launch of an innovative school-based teacher training programme that offers an exciting alternative to becoming a qualified teacher, by training in school from day one.

This new path into secondary school teaching is a new way to gain the qualifications and practical skills graduates need to become a teacher. It allows those who have just finished a degree, or have been working in a career for many years to combine teacher training with learning on the job.

Candidates can now apply for the academic year 2013/2014. Further information is available at learneditt.co.uk FUTURE MAGNATES: Future Business Magnates is an innovative competition which lets students in County Durham schools experience the world of business. Now in its eighth year, the competition is bigger than ever with twenty four schools participating to win the title of Future Business Magnates 2013. Each participating school works with a partner from a County Durham based business to come up with a business idea and produce a business plan. Future Business Magnates comprises of six challenges throughout the year, schools take part in workshops designed to test their skills. The first challenge, Building A Business Team, was held recently at Bishop Auckland College and East Durham College. The winners were North Durham Academy, partnered with Lanchester Dairies, GREEN LIGHT: Planners have given Sunderland College the go-ahead to and build brand new facilities at its Bede campus.

And that means that Sunderland College students will have access to some of the best sports and visual and performing arts facilities in the UK.

The College will spend 22m on the project that will see the creation of two brand new 'academies'.

The Arts Academy - for dance, drama, music, media, photography, art and design courses - will include: recording studios, a film screening suite, dance, drama and media studios, green rooms, art, textiles and design studios, film processing and dark rooms state-of-the-art computer facilities and teaching studios.

The Sports Academy will bring top-class facilities such as a sports science laboratory, fitness suites, treatment room and a four court sports hall.

ASSISTED LIVING: York University is a partner in a contest to develop innovative commercial prototypes which will benefit disabled, blind and partially sighted people.

The new Digital Inclusion Innovation Contest, launched by the Technology Strategy Board, aims to stimulate digital innovation by UK businesses for assisted living applications.

Businesses are challenged to develop an innovative prototype which has a wider commercial potential. The prize includes funding of up to 48,000 to develop the prototype.