LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS
Three of the week's headlines ...
Guidance re political impartiality in English classrooms 'confusing' say teachers.
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England to start offering Covid jabs to all over-5s - rolled out on a non-urgent- basis.
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No more 'Sir' and 'Miss' as charity urges children to say 'Teacher'.
 
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View all this week's education news
Education policy
Parliament is in recess and Steve Besley is taking a well-earned break over half-term, but he'll be back with a vengeance next week.

You can catch up with all his previous policy round-ups and/or sign up to receive an email version every Friday via this link.
Latest research, reports and studies
Racial preferences in school selection | Best Evidence in Brief
What's next for national security and research | HEPI 
UK super computers produce virtual representation of the universe | UKRI

Which factors influence the effect of maths interventions | Best Evidence in Brief
Search our education research section
COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK
Parliament and elsewhere
Parliament is in recess.
Events and CPD opportunities
24 February: Westminster Forum Projects - The future of assessment in England: moving forward from the pandemic. 

Running an education-related event that you'd like to see included in our calendar? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with details and a link to the booking info.
 
See all events
Three interesting daily facts
MONDAY 21 FEBRUARY:
  1. On this day in 1477 John Paston received the first recorded valentine letter in English, from Margery Brews.
  2. On this day in 1862 Nathaniel Gordon became the only American to be executed for slave trading, their shipping being illegal under the 1820 Piracy Act.
  3. On this day in 1965 Malcolm X was assassinated in New York aged 39 by three members of the Nation of Islam.
TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY:
  1. On this day in 1632 Galileo's 'Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems' was published. 
  2. On this day in 1907 taxi cabs with meters were introduced in London.
  3. On this day in 1928 Bert Hinkler completed the first solo flight from England to Australia, landing in Darwin having taken off from Croydon 15 days earlier.
WEDNESDAY 23 FEBRUARY:
  1. On this day in 1633 Samuel Pepys, diarist, was born in London.
  2. On this day in 1821 John Keats, poet, died in Rome of tuberculosis aged 25.
  3. On this day in 1997 it was announced that Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep, had been born.
THURSDAY 24 FEBRUARY:
  1. On this day in 303 the first official edict for the persecution of Christians was issued by Emperor Diocletian.
  2. On this day in 1930 US-born MP Nancy Astor became the first woman to speak in the House of Commons.
  3. On this day in 1923 the Flying Scotsman entered service with the London and North Eastern Railway.
FRIDAY 25 FEBRUARY:
  1. On this day in 1570 Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth 1 of England for heresy and the persecution of English Catholics during her reign. He also absolves her subjects from allegiance to the crown.
  2. On this day in 1862 a paper currency known as Greenbacks was introduced in the US by order of President Abraham Lincoln.
  3. On this day in 1868 Andrew Johnson, 17th American president, was impeached - to acquitted the following May by a single vote.
SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY:
  1. On this day in 1797 the Bank of England issued £1 banknotes for the first time.
  2. On this day in 1815 Napoleon escaped from exile in Elba.
  3. On this day in 1936 Hitler opened the first factory to manufacture the Volkswagen, the people's car.
SUNDAY 27 FEBRUARY:
  1. On this day in 1814 Beethoven's 8th Symphony received its premier in Vienna.
  2. On this day in 1900 a meeting of trade unionists, Marxists and Fabians resulted in the foundation of the Labour Representation Committee - the British Labour Party.
  3. On this day in 1939 General Franco's rebel Nationalist Government was recognised by Britain and France.
Awareness days from around the world
THIS MONTH IS:

UK: 
Febudairy, LGBT History Month, Raynaud’s Awareness Month.  
US:
Black History Month, National Fasting February, Free and Open Source Software Month, Canned Food Month, Creative Romance Month, Great American Pies Month, Boost Your Self Esteem Month, American Heart Month, National Children’s Dental Health Month, National Hot Breakfast Month, National Library Lover's Month, National Bird Feeding Month, National Bake for Family Fun Month, Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, National Cherry Month, National Grapefruit Month, National Snack Food Month, National Weddings Month, National Embroidery Month, Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. 
 

THIS WEEK IS:

UK: 
You Can Care Week.
INTERNATIONAL: 
The Start of Fairtrade Fortnight, Real Bread Week.
US:
National Engineers Week, National FFA Week.

MONDAY 21 FEBRUARY IS:
President's Day (US), National Grain-Free Day (US), National Sticky Bun Day (US).

TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY IS:
World Encephalitis Day (International), World Spay Day (International), World Thinking Day (International), National Supermarket Employee Day (US), National California Day (US), National Cook a Sweet Potato Day (US), National Margarita Day (US).


WEDNESDAY 23 FEBRUARY IS:
National Banana Bread Day (US), National Dog Biscuit Day (US), National Tile Day (US).

THURSDAY 24 FEBRUARY IS:
National Tortilla Chip Day (US),
National Toast Day (US), National Chilli Day (US).


FRIDAY 25 FEBRUARY IS:
National Chocolate Covered Nut Day (US), National Clam Chowder Day (US), Skip the Straw Day (US).

SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY IS:
Tell a Fairy Tale day (US), National Set a Good Example Day (US), National Pistachio Day (US).

SUNDAY 27 FEBRUARY IS:
Anosmia Awareness Day (US), National Kahula Day (US), National Retro Day, National Strawberry Day, National Polar Bear Day (US).
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