4-10 April 2015
Saturday
Good for the goose
Duck feather, goose down - no rules applied on International Pillow Fight Day. Across the globe, people picked up a pillow and (lovingly) bashed their neighbours. Thank goodness it wasn’t a school day.
Sunday
French flair
Ooh la la! French clubs Toulon and Clermont Auvergne made the European Rugby Champions Cup semi-finals. Saracens and Leinster, from England and Ireland respectively, are also through.
Monday
Easter action
Schools in England could be closed later this year after the NUT voted to ballot members on strike action over school funding cuts. The decision was made at the union’s annual conference in Harrogate.
Tuesday
Chicago bullish
A second-round mayoral election took place in Chicago, as local teaching unions battled to oust incumbent Rahm Emanuel (left). Teachers have gone on strike during Emanuel’s term over pay and redundancies.
Wednesday
Be my ami
The Entente Cordiale was signed on this day 101 years ago between France and the UK. It is still the basis of the alliance between the countries, which has survived two World Wars - and numerous exchange trips.
Thursday
In conversation
A study showed that the first signs of autism in children can show whether they will have good or bad conversational skills in later life. Further research into the condition’s molecular foundation will shed more light.
Friday
Beatle breakdown
If you thought Zayn leaving One Direction was bad, spare a thought for teachers on this day in 1970. They had to deal with teens devastated by Paul McCartney’s revelation that he would be leaving the Beatles.
11-17 April 2015
Saturday
Stick your oar in
“Row, row, row your boats!” the Oxford and Cambridge coxswains will be screaming at their crews during the 161st Boat Race. Women will be competing for the first time since the event began 186 years ago.
Sunday
Flower power
The orchid family boasts more than 26,000 species and, at the RHS London Orchid Show, enthusiasts will be able to feast their eyes on some of the rarest, most exotic varieties.
Monday
Have a word
Mind your Ps and Qs - they’ll get you a good score on National Scrabble Day. This year, an attempt will be made to break the world record for the highest score achieved by two players in 24 hours: 196,525.
Tuesday
Bring them back
One year ago, more than 270 girls were taken from their school in Chibok, Nigeria, by terrorist group Boko Haram. The kidnapping was condemned worldwide via the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
Wednesday
Hogwarts and all
Happy 25th birthday to Emma Watson, the actor who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films. Since her Hogwarts days, Watson has become a UN advocate for feminism and equal rights.
Thursday
Make me an offer
It’s the second National Offer Day for primary schools. The families of more than 600,000 four-year-olds will be told where their child will be learning from September onwards.
Friday
Don’t do anything rash
Aaah-choo! World Allergy Week will be in full swing, raising awareness of allergic diseases. Surprisingly, however, there is still no medical proof of the allergenic properties of homework.
