The UCL Centre for Holocaust Education has welcomed comments made in the House of Lords by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Speaking during a debate on antisemitism on 11 June 2026, Baroness Taylor reasserted the Government’s firm commitment to Holocaust Education and specifically referenced her meeting with Dr Andy Pearce, Director at the UCL Centre. You can see the full extract below:
“The Government are firmly committed to supporting Holocaust education, but I am pleased to tell the noble Baroness that, this week, I met with Andy Pearce from UCL to talk about the programme of education that that institution is undertaking. He told me about the evidence-based approach it takes to that education and how it is going to tackle some of the gaps it is finding in young people’s knowledge. Jewish Culture Month, which I referred to earlier, is a clear way that we can celebrate and inform the wider community about the wonderful heritage of our Jewish community.” Minister Baroness Taylor, June 11, 2026
The UCL Centre welcomes recognition of the importance of evidence-based Holocaust education. This is particularly important as research from the UCL Centre shows that many students continue to have significant gaps in their historical knowledge, and some hold troubling misconceptions. This underlines the need for Holocaust education that is carefully researched, thoughtfully taught and supported by sustained investment in schools and teachers.
This importantly follows the Government’s continued emphasis on Holocaust Education in both their response to the Independent Curriculum and Assessment Review and their Protecting What Matters Policy Paper.
It is with this in mind that the UCL Centre is currently convening a national conversation on Holocaust education to understand why the Holocaust should be taught, what it should achieve and how teaching of it can respond to the modern world.
In embarking on this national conversation, The UCL Centre will continue to work with teachers, researchers, policymakers and partners to strengthen Holocaust education, support professional development, and help ensure that teaching and learning about the Holocaust is rigorous, meaningful and accessible to all young people.
