10-16 January 2015
Saturday
Protest too much?
The Conservatives said they would make it harder for teachers to take strike action if they won the next election. Under the plans, 40 per cent of eligible union members would need to vote in favour of a walk-out.
Sunday
Long walk for Freedom
Millions of people across France took part in mass rallies in the wake of last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris. More than 40 world leaders joined a march in the French capital to mark the deaths of 17 people.
Monday
Raiding the photo album
Celebrities including Joan Collins are releasing photos of their teenage selves for Barnardo’s Fostering and Adoption Week. The pictures will be projected during the week in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Cardiff.
Tuesday
Wheels of change
London’s commuters dusted down their handlebars and oiled their chains as a 24-hour bus strike hit the city. An estimated 27,000 drivers refused to start their engines in a dispute over pay.
Wednesday
All together now
The Education for Peace conference took place in Geneva. It celebrated the creation of the United Nations 70 years ago with speeches, music and a peace manifesto written by students.
Thursday
Going places
Parents’ applications for primary schools had to be submitted by today. The sharp-elbowed masses will find out if their little darlings have made it into their school of choice on 16 April.
Friday
Rein of fire
It’s the eve of St Anthony’s Day and, in the Spanish village of San Bartolom de Pinares, hundreds of people will ride horses through bonfires to “purify” the animals. It’s a tradition that dates back 500 years.
17-23 January 2015
Saturday
Propose a toast
Television history was made on this day in 1983 when the BBC launched Breakfast Time, the first morning programme of its kind. It mixed news and informal items, such as exercise sessions with the “Green Goddess”.
Sunday
School of thought
The Education World Forum, the largest gathering of education and skills ministers on the planet, opens in London today. Last year more than 90 countries were represented by more than 500 delegates.
Monday
Glum and glummer
Stay under the duvet today, because it’s Blue Monday, the day designated (in a not-entirely-scientific way) as the most depressing of the year, thanks to bills, bad weather and failed resolutions.
Tuesday
We need to talk
The people of the US - and plenty of other places - will be listening to president Barack Obama’s annual State of the Union address. He is expected to discuss the threat of cyber-attacks, among other topics.
Wednesday
Pick up the pace
Leaders at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland will be challenged to pick up a pedometer and “walk for education”. For every 6km covered, Swiss bank UBS will donate a bicycle to a schoolchild in Africa.
Thursday
Queens and country
After 63 years and 216 days on the throne, Queen Victoria died on this date in 1901. Her descendant, Queen Elizabeth II, is due to take her, erm, crown for longest-reigning British monarch on 9 September this year.
Friday
Film studies
Scandinavia’s largest film festival opens today in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Lesson, a Bulgarian film about a schoolteacher driven to extremes by debt, is nominated for best international debut.
