Important Dates For Schools: Plan Your Academic Year 2023-2024

Diaries at the ready, teachers! To help plan your 2023-2024 academic year, we’ve rounded up some important dates for schools. Plus, examples of workshops to help you and your pupils celebrate them.

From Anti-Bullying Week to World Book Day, Black History Month to British Science Week, we have your school’s creative needs covered. Remember, our primary school workshops can take place both in-person and online (via One Day Videos). Have a browse below and start planning!

Black History Month: October 2023

Black History Month spans the entire month of October – an opportunity for pupils to discover black history, legacy and achievements. From the Civil Rights Movement in America to the UK’s Windrush generation, there’s loads to explore. And, much to consider.

Put yourself in Martin Luther King Jr’s shoes for a read through of his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech. Find out how Rosa Parks’ protest on an Alabama bus changed the course of history. Or, step even further back in time to meet the inhabitants of the ancient kingdom of Benin in West Africa.

In-school workshops:

Black History (KS2)
Black History (KS1)
Kingdom of Benin (KS2)
The Long Walk to Freedom: Nelson Mandela (KS2)
Dance Africa (KS1 & KS2)
African Drumming (KS1 & KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

Rosa Parks (KS1 & KS2)
The Kingdom of Benin (KS2)
Mary Seacole (KS1 & KS2)
Dance Africa (KS1 & KS2)

Remembrance Day: 11 November 2023

Commemorated annually on 11 November (the day World War 1 ended in 1918), Remembrance Day encourages us to remember both World Wars and the brave soldiers who fought in them.

‘The Great War’ was a significant turning point in British history. Service and sacrifice are two through-provoking themes that arise when considering this period of history. However, Remembrance Day also give us the chance to discuss concepts like hope, peace and shared future. Because 11 November 2023 is a Saturday, schools may choose to mark the occasion on Friday 10 November instead.

In-school workshops:

World War 1 (KS2)
World War 1: A-Z (KS1)
World War 2 (KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

World War 2, Into the Bunker (KS2)

Anti-Bullying Week: 13-17 November 2023

Anti-Bullying Week in November is a key date in primary schools. Chock-full of activities, your pupils will get to grips with what bullying is, the forms it can take and what we can all do to tackle it.

As core members of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, we’re proud to deliver Anti-Bullying workshops for primary schools around the UK. The 2023 Anti-Bulling Week theme is still TBC. Keep your eyes peeled for brand new KS1 & KS2 workshops in due course! We also have a range of other Anti-Bullying titles, please get in touch to discuss.

In-school workshops:

The 2023 Anti-Bullying Week theme is still TBC – reserve your date now!
Reach Out (KS1 & KS2)
R.E.S.P.E.C.T (KS1 & KS2)
Being Different, Belonging Together (KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

Reach Out (KS1 & KS2)
Change Starts With Us (KS1 & KS2)
One Kind Word (KS1 & KS2)

Merry Christmas!: December 2023

The trees are up, the tinsel is out and the smell of mince pies is in the air. Yes, it can only be Christmas! Christmas is one of the most important dates for schools. A most wonderful time to celebrate culture and tradition.

We love to team the festive season with the magic of Christmas past. Therefore, we invite your pupils to step foot into a Victorian Christmas. Discover which historic creations have shaped the way we celebrate Christmas today. Turkey? Trees? Tinsel? Let’s find out!

In-school workshops:

A Victorian Christmas (KS2)

Safer Internet Day: 6 February 2024 

When it comes to important dates for schools, Safer Internet Day is near the top of the list. It promotes both the positive use of digital technology, as well as the potential dangers we need to look out for.

We have a fantastic range of Online Safety workshops for primary schools. Whether your pupils would benefit from general guidance on staying safe online, a deep-dive into online gaming or a session about cyber-bullying, our workshops enable children to enjoy the internet as responsibly as possible.

In-school workshops:

Online Safety: The Big Questions – starting the conversation (KS2)
Into the Screen KS1 and Into the Screen KS2 – online privacy (KS1 & KS2)
Be Kind Online – online bullying (KS2)
Captain Digi – cyber security (KS1)
Game Over – online gaming (KS2)
Cyber-Heroes – online gaming (KS1)
It’s Up to You #008 – cyber security (KS2)
#HAVEYOURSAY – social media (KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

Captain Digi (KS1)
Into The Screen (KS1)
Online World (KS2)
Game Over (KS2)

Chinese New Year: 10 February 2024 

Also known as ‘The Spring Festival’, Chinese New Year marks the start of the lunisolar Chinese calendar. It heralds a huge cultural celebration in China and other Southeast Asian countries, where families come together to share delicious food, launch fireworks, shop at open-air markets and enjoy traditional dances.

Top fact: every year is marked by one of 12 animal zodiacs. 2024 will be the Year of the Dragon!

In-school workshops:

Shang Dynasty (KS2)
Chinese Ribbon Dancing (KS1 & KS2)
Myths & Legends (KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

Chinese New Year (EYFS, KS1 & KS2)

World Book Day: 7 March 2024

We all have a favourite story, right? One that fires our imagination and fills us with wonder? World Book Day is the perfect time to celebrate those stories that mean the most to us.

The website has many ideas for how schools can get involved. One of our favourite activities is creating a soundscape to match a story being read aloud. Did you know you can use your bodies? Clap your hands, click your heels, use your voice! Our range of primary school Literacy workshops are below.

In-school workshops:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (KS1)
Macbeth (KS2)
Romeo & Juliet (KS2)
Dragon Tales (KS1 & KS2)
Fairytales (KS1)
The Jungle Book (KS1 & KS2)
Treasure Island (KS2)
Myths & Legends (KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

Fairy Forest Footsteps (EYFS & KS1)
Fairytales (EYFS & KS1)
Little Flopsy Rabbit (EYFS & KS1)
Macabre Macbeth (KS1 & KS2)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (KS1)
Macbeth (KS2)
Shakespearean Language Taster (KS2)
The Jungle Book (KS1 & KS2)
Australian Storytelling (KS1)

British Science Week: 8-17 March 2024

Science is an awe-inspiring, mind-boggling, gut-swooping subject. With space, animals, rockets, forces, robots and more all at our scientific disposal, gather your pupils for British Science Week and see what you can explore together.

Resource packs for EYFS, primary and secondary classes are available via the website. Or for interactive discovery galore, take a look at our exciting STEM school workshops below. What will you uncover?

In-school workshops:

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (KS2)
Arctic & Antarctic KS1 and Arctic & Antarctic KS2 (KS1 & KS2)
Rainy Rainforest (KS2)
Inventors & Inventions (KS2)
Forces and Magnets (KS2)
Living Things (KS1)
Our Carbon Footprint (KS1)
Our Diverse World (KS1 & KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (KS2)
Polar Landscape sSng (EYFS & KS1)
The Rainforest Song (KS1 & KS2)
The Water Cycle (KS2)
Animals – Carnivores, Herbivores and Omnivores (KS1)
Healthy Living (EYFS & KS1)
States of Matter (KS2)
Electricity – Benjamin Franklin (KS2)
Forces – Resistance (KS2)
Space – The Moon Landing (KS2)
Weather & Seasons (EYFS & KS1)

Shakespeare Week: 18-24 March 2024

The late, great William Shakespeare shaped reading and writing in Britain. Over 400 years after he lived, his plays continue to be read by schools around the world.

Shakespeare Week was created to give primary-aged children their first introduction to Shakespeare, his unique characters, stories and language. An engaging pathway to the plays of the Bard, get your pupils involved with our Shakespeare primary school workshops.

In-school workshops:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (KS1)
Macbeth (KS2)
Romeo & Juliet (KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

Macabre Macbeth (KS1 & KS2)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (KS1)
Macbeth (KS2)
Shakespearean Language Taster (KS2)

Holi Festival: 24 March 2024

Bright and brimming with ancient history, the Hindu festival of Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and triumph of good over evil. It’s also known as the ‘Festival of Colours’.

Religious ceremonies are held to honour the Hindu god, Krishna. However, Holi is also a time for fun. Street processions, dancing, singing and bucketloads of brightly coloured powder – it has it all. This cultural event is totally unique!

In-school workshops:

Holi Festival (KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

Holi, Festival of Colours (KS2)

Mental Health Awareness Week: 13-20 May 2024

At One Day, we’re committed to opening up the conversation around mental health. We believe that an understanding of wellbeing is important (and achievable) at a young age.

Teaching children empathy, self-awareness and resilience can help build a kinder, more inclusive, world. Mental Health Awareness Week says that by tackling stress, “we can go a long way to tackle mental health problems such as anxiety and depression”. It all begins with education.

In-school workshops:

Mindfulness: Mindful Superheroes (KS1)
Mindfulness: Mindful Humans (KS2)
Mindfulness: Year 6 Exam Stress (KS2)
Mindfulness: Importance of Sleep (KS2)
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds (KS2)
Mirror, Mirror – body image (KS2)
Dream Big – transition (KS2)

Online workshops available on One Day Videos:

Creative Mindfulness – Under The Sea (KS1)
Creative Mindfulness (KS2)
Healthy Living (EYFS & KS1)
Resilience and Sportsmanship (KS2)