Young badminton players proved top of the form when they took to the court for a tournament at Ashington Leisure Centre.

Teams from Berwick, Allendale, Alnwick and Prudhoe took part in the Key Stage Three and Four Northumberland Schools Badminton County Final organised by Badminton England and the School Sports Partnership..

Northumberland Schools Badminton County Final Key Stage Four winners (back) and the stage three victors (front) receive their trophies at Ashington Leisure Centre

For the first time, all six School Sports Partnerships in Northumberland - Ashington, Blyth and Bedlington, Cramlington and Seaton Valley, Morpeth and Ponteland, North Northumberland and Tynedale - were involved in the competition.

Exam and test results for Cramlington schools:

Cramlington Learning Village -GCSE (2009), Post-16 (2009)

St Peter's Roman Catholic Middle School - Key Stage 2 (2009)

Cragside C of E Primary School - Key Stage 2 (2009)
Eastlea Primary School - Key Stage 2 (2009)
Northburn Primary School - Key Stage 2 (2009)
Shanklea Primary School - Key Stage 2 (2009)
Beaconhill Community Primary School - Key Stage 2 (2009)
Burnside - Key Stage 2 (2009)
Hareside Primary School - Key Stage 2 (2009)

Atkinson House School - GCSE (2009)
Cramlington Hillcrest School - GCSE (2009)
East Hartford School - Key Stage 2 (2009)

Comparative tables for Northumberland schools:
Key Stage 2, GCSE, Post-16

List of school closures in Northumberland due to the snow »

Northumberland County Council alerts and reminders »

Cramlington weather links »

A mining company is helping to brighten up playtime for pupils by donating funds.

Northumberland-based Aluminium manufacturer, Rio Tinto Alcan have donated £1,000 to help Northburn Primary School, in Cramlington, build a sandpit, workshop areas with play tools and a car wash role play corner.

Around 50 three to five year olds every day will benefit from the exciting new features which also include a new vegetable plot, insect garden, playhouse, art gallery, musical area and a stage.

It's been a great year for Cramlington-based indie band The Claymores.

Cited as one of the best new talents of 2009 by The Mix Radio, an appearance at Newcastle's O2 Academy and a demo recording all add up to an eventful year, but when you consider that the oldest member of the band is just 15, it makes it all the more remarkable.

The Claymores were formed by four friends, 15-year-old guitarist Alex Newman, singer Joe Allan,14, drummer Lewi Rutherford, 14, and bass player Jamie Stables, 14, around 12 months ago.

A school got in the spirit of giving by baking bears to sell for charity.

Children from Beaconhill Primary School were each given a Pudsey shaped biscuit cutter and baked their own treats to sell for Children in Need. They also dressed in spotty clothing and came up with their own ways to raise cash from family and friends.

Teacher Amanda Craigs said: "We have been very busy raising money for this year's Children in Need appeal. In total the school has raised over £600, with one class raising over £140 in biscuit sales alone. This is a fantastic achievement and is a credit to our children and their families who have worked so hard to bake and sell the biscuits."

A school in Cramlington has won a national prize for its sports fields.

Cramlington Learning Village & Sporting Club won the Best Public Sector Sports Ground of the Year Award at the IOG Industry Awards London.

The site has a range of sports pitches.

Parents applying for places for their children at popular schools in Northumberland will be asked to provide proof of where they live, following a row over admissions in Cramlington.

County council bosses have introduced tougher checks following a recommendation by Local Government Ombudsman, Ann Seex, who investigated complaints about the handling of admissions to Burnside Primary School last year.

Four families complained to the council after their children were refused places at the school, despite some having brothers or sisters there already.

A student at Cramlington Learning Village has been diagnosed with swine flu and is staying at home, though the school stays open.

Headteacher Derek Wise sent a letter to colleagues and parents.

The letter says: "In line with the current treatment only policy in the UK, school closures and the distribution of antiviral medicines for prevention are no longer normally recommended due to the virus being widespread within the community.

TV's The Apprentice inspired students to plan the future of Whitley Bay.

Teams from Cramlington Learning Village took part in a challenge based on the BBC 1 series - where contestants had to remarket a seaside town - and concluded that donkey rides on the sand, water sports and a programme of markets and festivals could be the answer to the North town's success.

After a morning in Whitley Bay fact-finding, the teams pitched their ideas in a presentation to North Tyneside Council.

John Fleet, the council's town centre manager, said: "They came up with a wealth of ideas. We were all very impressed."