21-27 February 2015
Saturday
Love in a controlled climate
Plans were unveiled for the first gay marriage behind bars. Mikhail Gallatinov and Marc Goodwin will tie the knot at Full Sutton Prison near York - but the couple won’t be sharing a matrimonial cell.
Sunday
A world away
Prime minister David Cameron implored British schools to “fight against Islamist extremist terror” after three schoolgirls from East London left the UK for Syria during half-term.
Monday
All the fun of the fairtrade
Raise awareness of global trading and fair farming by teaching pupils how they can make a difference over Fairtrade Fortnight, which started on Monday. Resources can be found at tesconnect.comfairtradefortnight
Tuesday
Don’t sweat it
With scant regard for the Premier League (or for teachers’ topical planning) a Fifa task force said the 2022 World Cup in Qatar should be held in November and December, rather than the summer.
Wednesday
Raising the baa
The Society of Biology felt sheepish about one of its new blue plaques celebrating unsung heroes of biology. Among those honoured was Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell.
Thursday
A right royal road trip
Prince William had the perfect excuse to brush up on his foreign language skills as he headed off to the Far East; it’s konnichiwa to Japan first, followed by a nihao to Beijing and Shanghai in China.
Friday
Chilling out
Around the world, people are lowering the temperatures of their thermostats for International Polar Bear Day. The synchronised cooling-off is designed to reduce the global carbon footprint.
28 February - 6 March 2015
Saturday
Teaching’s community spirit
The London Festival of Education will take place, with talks from shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, deputy mayor for education and culture Munira Mirza and spoken-word artist George the Poet.
Sunday
Wales on song
Happy St David’s Day! Or rather, Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus! Schools will get in on the act by holding an Eisteddfod, a traditional Welsh festival of literature and music.
Monday
Please, Mr Postman.
Parents will be waiting anxiously by the letter box to find out which secondary school their little darling has been allocated; it’s national offer day, when local authorities start sending their decisions.
Tuesday
Witness the fitness
The girth of the nation’s waistlines will come under scrutiny with the publication of NHS statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet. Time to put the sweets away and head to the gym!
Wednesday
Northern lights
Teachers in Manchester are invited to attend a Department for Education event on the new primary curriculum. It aims to address the challenges that the new system poses for teachers and schools.
Thursday
West Wing to Wembley
Actor Martin Sheen is headlining We Day UK at Wembley Arena, London. The event, organised by charity Free the Children, aims to empower young people to take action on global and local issues.
Friday
Do the rights thing
Teach your students to stand up for what is just on the European Day of the Righteous. Established in 2012, the day commemorates people who have taken a stand against totalitarianism and genocide.
