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GENERAL Census 2021. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published further data sets for England and Wales from last year’s Census covering national identity, language, religion and ethnic group, and showing among other things that less than half of the population (46.2%) described themselves as Christian, 81.7% identified themselves as ‘white,’ and Polish, Romanian and Panjabi were the main languages spoken other than English. Social mobility. The Social Mobility Commission announced the membership of its new Employer Advisory Group intended to help drive social mobility in the workplace and guide the Commission’s work in this area generally. 4-Day Week. The Independent reported that more companies were joining the campaign for a 4-day working week without loss of pay, suggesting it now had a hundred companies on board.
SCHOOLS: ITT. The government published the latest figures on initial teacher training (ITT) recruitment in England indicating a significant fall in the total number of entrants for the year, falling below target at both primary and secondary level with subjects like physics, D/T, computing modern foreign languages all well below par. Teacher wellbeing. The charity Education Support, published the latest in its annual survey into the mental health and wellbeing of those working in education in the UK suggesting “record numbers (59%) have considered leaving the sector in the past year” citing workload as a key factor. Pupil wellbeing. The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) looked into further evidence of the impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health and wellbeing suggesting that secondary-age girls and primary-age boys were likely to have been most affected and that disadvantaged young people were not necessarily more affected, rather they were already more vulnerable to wellbeing issues.
FE/SKILLS: ONS decision on classification. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced the result of its review into the reclassification of FE, sixth form colleges and designated institutions in England, confirming that changed circumstances including the recent Skills Act, meant that they should now come under public sector control. Apprenticeships. The EDSK think tank published a further important report on apprenticeships, highlighting continuing concerns around the quality of training and nature of some schemes ten years after the landmark Richard Review, calling among other things for clear ‘training curricula’ in future with minimum hours of face-to-face training along with a dedicated apprenticeship inspectorate. Working in FE. The Education and Training Foundation reported on its survey of people working in the FE and training sector, finding that most (81%) enjoyed working with students and seeing them develop but saw funding, constant changes and lack of time and resources as big challenges.
HE: Ukraine partnership. Research England announced it was committing £5m to help develop a new UK-Ukraine University Twinning Initiative that would support future UK – Ukraine collaborative work around research and innovation. Digital learning. The HE Policy Institute (HEPI) and Kortext reported on students’ experiences of digitally enhanced learning outlined in research undertaken by UCAS with digital recording of lectures the most in-demand resource and students generally looking for a single digital learning platform that’s easy to use. Moving for work. The HE Statistics Agency highlighted the work of its new graduate mobility marker as it examined the movement of graduates in and out of their local region in the pursuit of work, showing just under half of those studied stayed in the same region where they lived for both study and work.
Online Safety Bill: Remaining Stages (Monday 5 December). Westminster Hall debate on the conduct of Ofsted school inspections (Tuesday 6 December). Education Committee session with the Education Secretary (Wednesday 7 December). UCAS publish End of Cycle data (Thursday 8 December).
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MONDAY 05 DECEMBER On this day in 1872 the brig Mary Celeste was found drifting in the Atlantic. On this day in 1933 Prohibition was repealed in America after 14 years. On this day in 1952 the Great Smog began in London, four days after extreme air pollution, which caused 10,000 deaths.
TUESDAY 06 DECEMBER On this day in 1917 following the Bolshevik revolution, Finland declared its independence from Russia. On this day in 1922 the Irish Free State was proclaimed. On this day in 1991 Dubrovnik, in Croatia, was bombarded during its siege by Serb-led Yugoslav forces.
WEDNESDAY 07 DECEMBER On this day in 1732 the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden (now the Royal Opera House) opened. On this day in 1941 Japanese aircraft attacked the main base of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. On this day in 1955 Clement Attlee stepped down as Labour leader.
THURSDAY 08 DECEMBER On this day in 1864 Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge was opened five years after its engineer’s death at the age of 53 through overwork and 40 cigars a day. On this day in 1941 the US and Britain declared war on Japan. On this day in 1980 the former Beatle John Lennon was shot dead in New York aged 40.
FRIDAY 09 DECEMBER On this day in 1688 the defeat of his forces by those of William of Orange at the Battle of Reading led King James II to flee England. On this day in 1960 the first episode of Coronation Street was screened. On this day in 1979 smallpox became the first disease to be eradicated by man.
SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER On this day in 1845 the civil engineer Robert Thompson patented pneumatic tyres. On this day in 1868 the world’s first traffic lights, off London’s Parliament Square, began operating. On this day in 1898 Cuba became an independent state.
SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER On this day in 1946 the UN International Children’s Emergency Fund was created to provide relief to children in war-torn countries. On this day in 1972 the Apollo 17 mission became the last to land astronauts on the moon. On this day in 1998 the $327.6 million Mars Climate Orbiter was launched from Cape Caneveral – it would later be lost because one of the ground teams was using imperial units and another was using metric.
Awareness days from around the world
DECEMBER IS:
WORLDWIDE: Advent (religious: Christian – 27 November to 23 December), Food Service Safety Month, Bingo’s Birthday Month, UK: Disability History Month (to December 16), Decembeard, Cancer Support Scotland, Nos Galan Road Races (Wales). US & CANADA: Eggnog Month, Month of Giving, Gift of Sight Month, Cat Lovers’ Month, Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, Pear Month, Tie Month, Volunteers Month, Write a Business Plan Month, Operation Santa Paws, Safe Toys and Gifts Month, Spiritual Literacy Month, Month of Overseas Filipinos, A Blue Christmas (24 November to 31 December). OTHER COUNTRIES: Volunteerism Month (Philippines).
THIS WEEK IS: UK: Computer Science Education Week. US & CANADA Inclusive Schools Week, Human Rights Consciousness Week (from Sunday 4 December), Illumination Street Week, Influenza Vaccination Week, Older Driver Safety Awareness Week.
MONDAY 05 DECEMBER
WORLDWIDE: International Ninja Day, International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, World Soil Day. US & CANADA AFL-CIO Day, Bathtub Party Day, Sacher Torte Day, Repeal Day, Celebrate Shelter Pets Day, Light up A Life, Blue Jeans Day, Communicate With Your Kids Days, Devon Day, Johnny Day, Walt Disney Day. OTHER COUNTRIES: Krampusnacht (Bavaria, Germany, Eastern Europe), Discovery Day (Haiti), Father’s Day (Thailand).
TUESDAY 06 DECEMBER
WORLDWIDE: Mitten Tree Day, World Trick Shot Day. UK: Day US & CANADA: Miners’ Day, Gazpacho Day, Microwave Oven Day, Pawnbrokers Day, Travis Day, Put on Your Own Shoes Day, Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Canada). OTHER COUNTRIES: Independence Day (Finland), Saint Nicholas Day (Poland), Constitution Day (Spain), Foundation of Quito Day, King Bhumibol’s Birthday (Thailand).
WEDNESDAY 07 DECEMBER
WORLDWIDE: International Civil Aviation Day. US & CANADA: Cotton Candy Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Illinois Day, Joy Day, Judith Day, Letter Writing Day, Rina Day. OTHER COUNTRIES: Flag Day (India), Memorial Day (East Timor), Feast of St. Ambrose (Italy), Unduvap Full Moon Poya (Sri Lanka).
THURSDAY 08 DECEMBER
WORLDWIDE: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Religious: Roman Catholic), Christmas Jumper Day. US & CANADA: Brownie Day, Crossword Solvers Day, Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day, Lard Day, Blue Collar Day, Health Savings Account Day, Simon Day, Take it in the Ear Day. OTHER COUNTRIES: Constitution Day (Uzbekistan), Bodhi Day (Japan), Youth Day (Albania), Mother’s Day (Panama), Santa Marian Kamalen Day (Guam), St. Clement of Ohrid (Macedonia), Udhauli Parva (Nepal).
FRIDAY 09 DECEMBER
WORLDWIDE: International Day of Veterinary Medicine, International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime, International Anti-Corruption Day, World Techno Day. US & CANADA: Pastry Day, Weary Willie Day, Christmas Card Day, Salesperson Day, Genocide Prevention Day, Lost amd Found Day, Blake Day, Llama Day, Opal Apples Day, V.C. Bird Day. OTHER COUNTRIES: Polish Foundryman’s Day (Poland), Lutefisk Day (Scandanavia), Independence Day (Tanzania).
SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER
WORLDWIDE: International Animal Rights Day, Human Rights Day, International Shareware Day, Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales. US & CANADA: Wreaths Across America Day, Dewey Decimal System Day, Nobel Prize Day, Lager Day, Gingerbread House Day, Corey Day, Derek Day, Salesperson Day, Have a Bagel Day. OTHER COUNTRIES: Victory Day (Iraq).
SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER
WORLDWIDE: Worldwide Candle Lighting Day, International Tango Day, International Shareway Day, World Choral Day, International Mountain Day. US & CANADA: Noodle Ring Day, UNICEF Birthday, Stretching Day, App Day, Caesar Day, Jon Day, Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster (Canada). OTHER COUNTRIES: Republic Day (Burkina Faso).
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