In September 2024, Woodhey High School began its first academic year as a UCL Beacon School for Holocaust Education, as part of the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education’s esteemed Beacon School programme. One of only 19 schools nationally in the 2024-2025 cohort, Woodhey was delighted to be recognised for its ongoing commitment to growing and developing its Holocaust education programme both at Woodhey and throughout the Shaw Education Trust. 

January 27th 2025 marked Woodhey’s first Holocaust Memorial Day as a Beacon School, and as part of this, Mr McMahon (Holocaust Lead Teacher) and Mr Downing (Holocaust SLT Link) worked with the Directors of Faculty to run a week of activities focused on recognition, celebration, remembrance, education, and reflection. These activities aimed to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau – the largest of the Nazi death camps – as well as to educate our students on how to challenge prejudice, discrimination, and unfair treatment today.  

Training was also delivered to all staff on teaching the Holocaust, and bespoke training was delivered to our Calculation Team on how to tackle approaching the Holocaust in Maths and Computing lessons. UCL textbooks were gifted to each Faculty in school and our Global Learning team took part in online training on new developments in Holocaust education to ensure effective delivery of a research-led Holocaust curriculum. 

Global Learning: Zooming in on the personal tragedies hidden within the statistics. 

In their Geography lessons, students explored Jewish life in the early 20th century through the study of the creation of an autonomous Jewish Oblast in Russia in 1928, linking this event to the broader themes of segregation, repression, and persecution during the Holocaust. This allowed students to understand the global context in which the Holocaust unfolded, enhancing their awareness of the geographical and political factors at play. R.E. students then engaged in a deeper study of the town of Trochenbrod, a uniquely Jewish town established on the Polish border in the 19th century. Trochenbrod was razed by the Nazis in 1942, with its residents brutally executed in the nearby forests. By exploring this tragedy, students were able to better understand the extent to which individual towns and communities were lost during the Holocaust. Finally, in History, students explored the individual tragedy of the Greenman family – Leon and Else, who moved to the Netherlands in 1935 and had their first child, Barney, in March 1940. Barney, Else, and Leon were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, with only Leon surviving that fateful trip. Students studied artefacts dear to Leon and listened to his personal testimony. Students found this lesson poignant and thought-provoking, with many tears being shed when discussing Barney’s all-too-short childhood. 

Calculation: Memorialising those we have lost. 

In a cross-curricular project, the Calculation Faculty (Maths and Computing) invited Years 7-11 students to design a memorial. Through this activity, students applied mathematical skills while engaging emotionally with the significance of memorialisation, illustrating the importance of remembering the past through thoughtful, creative design. Students mapped, on graph paper, 1:100 scale designs of memorial gardens filled with flowers, lakes, and areas for remembering those we have lost. Students also used compasses to design Stars of David and discussed with staff why the study of the Holocaust should be more than just the study of statistics. 

Communication: Exploring the language and legacy of the Holocaust. 

In our Communication Faculty, students explored the language of tragedy. In English, Key Stage 3 students studied the influential poems First They Came and The Hangman. By analysing the language, themes, and historical context of these poems, students reflected on the importance of speaking out against injustice and the dangers of remaining silent in the face of persecution. Later, in Spanish, students engaged with texts about the Holocaust, developing their language skills while deepening their understanding of the historical context. They focused on cognates and reading comprehension, discussing how the tragedies of the Holocaust and the daily workings of a concentration camp can be described in Spanish. 

Performance: For a better future. 

In the Performance Faculty, PE lessons explored the theme of Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, "For a Better Future," focusing on the physical benefits of exercise and its impact on quality of life. This discussion highlighted how a healthy body and mind contribute to building a better, more compassionate society, drawing parallels between personal well-being and social responsibility. Drama students, meanwhile, built upon their reading in English by performing the poem First They Came, encouraging deep reflection on its themes of moral responsibility and silence in the face of injustice. In Art, students had the opportunity to create and customise peace symbols on iPads, sharing their creations with the class. This activity helped students express their commitment to peace and social justice, using their artistic talents to symbolise a hopeful future, while Music students studied traditional Jewish music, identifying its key features and discussing how these elements can be incorporated into modern music. This exploration fostered an appreciation for Jewish culture and its lasting influence on the world of music. 

Innovation: A celebration of Jewish culture. 

Our brilliant Innovation Faculty delivered lessons designed to celebrate Jewish achievements and culture. In Technology, students designed Star of David suncatchers and Jewish candles, connecting with Jewish symbols in a hands-on, creative way. This activity helped students reflect on the significance of these symbols while learning new craft techniques. Science lessons focused on influential Jewish scientists and their contributions to various fields. Students explored the ways in which these individuals overcame adversity to make groundbreaking discoveries, highlighting the value of diversity in scientific progress. In Food Technology, students explored Jewish culinary traditions, including the rules of Shabbat and the significance of Jewish food. Students baked challah bread and made jam, and we can assure you, the school smelled delicious as a result! 

Enrichment: Sharing stories. 

The Global Learning team led assemblies this week on the topic of choices and why the choices we make define us. All students heard the stories of Leopold Socha, Irma Grese, Irena Sendler, and Zofia Kossak, four individuals who are remembered – for better or worse – for the choices they made during the Holocaust. Students were asked to reflect on the choices they make, the friends they keep, and why, even though doing the right thing may be hard, it is always the right choice to make. In addition to this, Woodhey High School had the honour of sending two students to represent the school at the Bury Holocaust Memorial event. Ben and Lily, in Year 10, read poems and lit a candle at the event, reflecting on the importance of remembrance and the lessons we can learn from the Holocaust. Their participation in this event was a proud moment for the school, highlighting our commitment to promoting Holocaust education in the wider community. 

 

Holocaust Memorial Day 2025