Cribsheet 22.07.11

A gift — Something to say thank you. Photograph: Getty

If you listen closely, you'll hear a collective sigh of relief – just about now – in classrooms up and down the land. Today teachers finally get chance to put down those exercise books down and celebrate – it's the end of term.

With this, comes presents. New research suggests that parents spend an average of £7.50 on an end-of-term present for their child's teacher. Multiply this by a class of 30, and that's gifts worth £225.

The survey by woolworths.co.uk said that the most common present was flowers. Alcohol was also a popular choice of gift.

We asked you on our Education Twitter feed what you were doing for #endofterm.

pickledseal says:

Finished yesterday! Had a few quiet beers last night with friends I don't get to see often enough during termtime.

beingFran says:

Celebrating end of term with an ear de-waxing session. (Haven't heard a thing the kids have said for a week.) Party!

BeckyDonkersley writes:

Some of us from school are off for a game of crown green bowling ... with beer and sandwiches included!!

While Anthony_Mark points out:

Means my daily commute to and from work will be easier and less stressful for a few weeks!

Staying with Twitter, and moving to #ukedchat, a whole host of teachers gathered last night online to review the academic year.

They discussed what worked and what didn't, covering topics as diverse as blogging, school trips and teaching mixed ability classes. If you missed it, you can read back over the discussion here.

More education news from the Guardian

One in nine adults has no qualifications, analysis of official figures shows, with a qualification gap opening up depending on geographical area.

Jeevan Vasagar reports:

One in nine adults has no qualifications, according to an analysis of official figures which highlights wide variations between different parts of the country.

In some parliamentary constituencies such as Glasgow East and Birmingham Hodge Hill, more than a third of people of working age have no qualifications, compared with just 2% in other areas, according to the study.

The analysis reveals pockets of educational underachievement next door to highly educated neighbourhoods.

The start of the holidays is not all good news. Summer holidays will 'cost UK parents £8.6bn', reports Tayo Yusuff:

In its Cost of a Child Report, LV= revealed the summer holidays are an expensive as well as stressful time for many parents, with children having on average 42 days off school. Parents will spend an average of £660 per child over the holidays, including £246 on childcare and £414 on entertainment.

Guardian networks

Join our live chat at 1pm on the Higher Education Network, on communicating the new course fees structure. We will be asking: what can HEIs do to clear the political fog surrounding tuition fees?

Education news from around the web

The Telegraph reports on a quiet revolution in literacy, taking place in London classrooms under the guidance of Dianne Murphy. The Murphy method of teaching was inspired by theories of direct instruction, and by the work of Professor John Hattie of the University of Auckland in New Zealand, reports The Telegraph.

Back to those end of term presents, over on the TES website a forum thread on strangest thank you gifts is attracting much response.

Tell the Guardian about your school's A-level and GCSE achievements

The Guardian would like to highlight your pupils' GCSE and A-level success this summer. We are asking schools to respond to a few quick questions about their pupils' results as soon as you receive them - on 18 August for A-levels and 25 August for GCSEs. Please take a note of the following web pages and return to them to fill in your results on those days:

Tell us your GCSE results

Tell us your A-level results

We want to tell our readers how well your pupils have performed and are looking forward to mapping the success of young people across the country.

Education seminars from Guardian Professional

Thinking about doing a PhD?

This seminar will provide independent advice and information on framing a research proposal, the process and pitfalls of a research degree and career prospects.

9 September, London.

Making the most of media opportunities to enhance your school's profile

Whether it's sharing good news or handling a crisis, headteachers and school management teams need to be able to handle the media in all of its forms. This one-day seminar in association with the NAHT is essential for new and aspiring heads as well as established school leaders who wish to update their knowledge. It includes a session on social media.

20 September, London.

Using social media to enhance the student experience

As tuition fees rise, so too do student expectations. Social media is an effective, low-cost way to manage this challenge. This seminar will explore newly conceived best practice, techniques and strategy for all higher education staff: academic, communications, recruitment, marketing and strategy.

22 September, London.

Life after a PhD

Whether it's getting published, convincing an employer that you have transferable skills, or securing an academic post, you need to be fully prepared to achieve your goals. This course will help you identify career opportunities for those with research skills and specialist knowledge.

4-5 October, London.