To say that 2016 was a challenging year for teachers would be an understatement. There were some radical reforms to education and plenty of political upheaval. There’s no telling what’s in store for education this year, but there’s still plenty to look forward to. Here are nine 2017 events for you to put straight into your diary.
2017 events
Big Schools Birdwatch, 3 January-17 February
RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch is happening right now in schools across the country. The watch, which celebrated its fifteenth birthday last year, aims to give children the opportunity to engage with nature. The RSPB website has a great interactive bird identifier and free resources for a range of ages. Tweet pictures of your class to @RSPB_Learning with #bigschoolsbirdwatch.
TES Sex education special issue, 13 January
In December it was leaked that education secretary Justine Greening may bow to pressure from sex and relationships education campaigners to make SRE compulsory in all schools. TES has pulled together the views of teachers and sex experts for a special issue about the state of sex and relationship education, what needs to change, what needs to be taught and what a pedagogy for SRE should really look like.
Bett, 25-28 January
The world’s leading education technology event will be back in London at the end of January. Sir Ken Robinson and Heston Blumenthal are amongst the big names speaking at Bett this year. And, with seminars on Twitter, iPads and virtual reality you’re sure to come away ready to cmd R or F5 your classroom. Follow @Bett_show to stay updated with all the latest ed-tech news leading up to the event.
TES ‘How to get a job’ supplement, January 27
Whether you are a new teacher looking for your first post, or are just starting to feel that it might be time for a change, our job-seeking supplement − free with the 27 January issue of TES − has advice, hints and inspiration to help you find a new role that’s right for you.
TES Schools Awards 2017 opens to entries, January 27
The TES Schools Awards, now in its eighth year, celebrates the extraordinary commitment, quality and innovation shown by teachers and support staff across the UK. Entry is free and open to state and independent schools in the UK. You can find out about last year’s winners and how to enter your school by visiting the TES Schools Awards website.
Children’s Mental Health Week, 6-12 February
Spread a little kindness in February by participating in Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week. You can raise awareness in your school by taking part in a live assembly, by fundraising or simply by adapting a lesson to start a healthy discussion about mental health.
The Big Bang science fair, 15-18 March
Take your class along to the largest celebration of STEM in the UK. The free Big Bang science fair teaches children how the skills they learn in the classroom are used by people in incredible jobs across the world. 70,000 schools visited in 2016. Book your tickets here.
The Education Show, 16-18 March
Attracting 10,000 visitors each year to the NEC Birmingham, The Education Show provides a unique opportunity to engage with over 300 exhibitors, showcasing innovative ideas, resources, and pedagogical insight. You can register to attend here.
World Autism Awareness Week, 27 March - 2 April
After the success of the first World Autism Awareness Week at School last year, the National Autistic Society has now made this an annual event. You can get prepared early and download free teacher resource packs containing everything from lessons plans to teacher guidance.
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