20-26 SEPTEMBER 2014
Saturday
Facing down the competition
Let’s hope the wind didn’t change.Some of the world’s best face-pullers took part in the World Gurning Championships in Cumbria. The prize went to Tommy Mattinson (pictured) for the 16th year in a row.
Sunday
Capital idea
Labour education spokesman Tristram Hunt vowed to bring back the London Challenge and roll it out across the country - particularly in coastal towns - if his party wins the next general election.
Monday
Horns of a dilemma
Conservation organisation the WWF held World Rhino Day, a campaign that celebrates all five species of rhinoceros. The charity urged people to take a stand against the poaching of rhino horns.
Tuesday
Eastern accolades
Educators across the sultanate of Brunei were honoured by their students on Teachers’ Day. The date coincides with the birth of the 28th ruler of Brunei, who introduced a policy of free education.
Wednesday
Warning signs
Unison closed its ballot for the “largest ever” national strike of teaching assistants and support staff working in academies. Thousands voted on the union’s proposal, after a dispute over a 1 per cent pay rise offer.
Thursday
Tip the balance
It’s National Work-Life Week, organised by charity Working Families. A highlight of the campaign is Go Home on Time Day - this may be a concept foreign to most teachers, but put down that marking and run for the door.
Friday
The Fab Four’s last hurrah
It’s the 45th anniversary of the end of a musical era and the start of tourist-related traffic jams on a North London street. Abbey Road, the last album to be recorded by The Beatles, was released on this day in 1969.
27 SEPTEMBER - 3 OCTOBER 2014
Saturday
Tying the knot
If you hear a loud noise, it could be the sound of hearts breaking around the world as George Clooney marries British human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in Venice. Congrats!
Sunday
As daft as you like
There’s no such thing as a stupid question - unless it’s Ask a Stupid Question Day. The event originated in the US but is now observed worldwide. Join in by encouraging your pupils to formulate ridiculous queries.
Monday
Caffeine fix
Every day may be coffee day unofficially, but International Coffee Day highlights the plight of farmers and the push for fair trade. Participating cafes offer free or discounted cups of joe.
Tuesday
In tune with the times
“And good morning everyone. Welcome to the exciting new sound of Radio 1.” With those words, DJ Tony Blackburn launched BBC Radio 1 in 1967. The first song played was Flowers in the Rain by The Move.
Wednesday
Multicultural month
Black History Month gets under way in the UK with the aim of promoting knowledge of black communities’ culture and heritage. It was first celebrated in 1926 in the US and is still marked there every February.
Thursday
We’re poets and we know it
English teachers should shout “hooray” because it’s National Poetry Day. Although it isn’t yet November, the theme for this year is “remember”. For resources, go to bit.lyPrimaryPoetry and bit.lySecondaryPoetry
Friday
Unity, justice and freedom
The Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit), a national holiday, commemorates the anniversary of the country’s formal reunification in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
