I think I need to start with an apology. In my general irritation with the accountability framework that schools and colleges have to face I forgot that it was one of the most important days of the year last week. You might have missed it too.

On Saturday 5th October we should have all been celebrating International Teachers Day. This is a significant day on the international calendar as it is an opportunity for parents and children to recognise the support they get from their teachers and in some parts of the world this is day is particularly well observed. Here in the UK, with our more abrasive approach to the ‘establishment’, we may not recognise the importance of teachers. However, in a whole host of other countries around the world the importance of teachers and teaching is not underestimated or taken for granted. There are parts of the world where it is the tradition, on this day, to bring in for your teacher some gift; just to say thank you for all that that teacher does, day in and day out, for the child or a young person.

In the UK we don’t quite have that spirit. Sadly, too often, relationships with schools and colleges can be abrasive and difficult. Far too often, although it is in the minority of cases, parents attack the teacher when that individual colleague may well be just endeavouring to support their child. Very very rarely does the attack result in anything physical (all that has happened) but it is more likely that we will see some denial, accusation or insult. This cannot and will not be tolerated.

Thankfully in our community these sort of behaviours and event and very very rare. We have an exceptionally supportive community, who work with us to understand what it is that we do, in support of their children and young people, and what they can do to support us in supporting their child. We should be thankful for that but we should not take that are granted.

So rather belatedly can I wish you all a happy International Teachers Day. I hope that you feel that your contributions are recognised more regularly than not and that you can bask in the contribution that you make.

Having started with an apology for missing the International Teachers Day I want to apologise for the fact that I’ve missed these significant international and national days.

International Coffee Day, Fruit at Work Day, CD Player Day, Walk Your Dog Day, Willy Wonka Day, Name Your Car Day, Coffee with a Cop Day, Kale Day, Phileas Fogg’s Wager Day, Peanuts Cartoon Day, Produce Misting Day, Pet Obesity Awareness Day, Improve Your Office Day, Cinnamon Roll Day, Dick Tracy Day, Taco Day, International Ship in a Bottle Day, Ten-Four Day, Denim Day, World Porridge Day, Get Funky Day, Change a Light Day, Pickle Day, Country Inn Bed and Breakfast Day, Mad Hatter Day, Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Day, You Matter To Me Day, LED Light Day, World Octopus Day, Salmon Day, Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day, International Beer & Pizza Day, International Top Spinning Day, Leif Erikson Day, Hug a Drummer Day, International Stage Management Day, Handbag Day, Squid and Cuttlefish Day.

I really wanted to put one or two for comic effect but this truly was from the last week or so. What would we do without them? I’m sure you celebrated each and every single one of these days fully and wholeheartedly.