As we noted in our celebration of Thank A Teacher Day, the end of year brings with it colleagues retiring (Anne Sutehall), stepping up to new roles (Graham Tate), moving on to new school or leaving teaching, but it’s the end of an era for CSS South this summer as a much loved and respected educator and colleague, and Quality Mark Beacon Alumni, Tony Cole, leaves.

Tony has been a passionate advocate for Holocaust teaching and learning and ensured that across the service there is a commitment to empowering ALL learners and an embracing Holocaust teaching and learning about the Holocaust as a right, and about safeguarding for the future. For many years and he has set the bar high and challenged assumptions about what is possible within specialist in alternative provisions. In 2013, Children’s Support Service became a UCL Beacon School in Holocaust Education. 2016 saw CSS receive the prestigious UCL Quality Mark in recognition of their continued commitment to Holocaust education, and it was noteworthy during that review Tony reflected thus:

‘Originally I taught the Holocaust – without any CPD, and thought I was doing it ok. Turns out …on reflection, I was doing it really badly… I would mark HMD, but it was pretty tokenistic, let’s all be quiet, sad and light a candle…and then I’d move on. I came across the [UCL Centre for Holocaust Education] CPD and I was interested, but cynical as I am with any CPD… It’s changed everything. When I got home that night my wife commented “…for the past hour you haven’t stopped talking about that training”… I was genuinely excited again about teaching and learning. I was engaged, and that hasn’t stopped in the years since. It’s genuinely enhanced and made me more reflective about everything I do… Now I adapt resources and play with the UCL pedagogy and model, so I can use a resource or HMD theme and embed it in UCL principles… I can engage other organisations, materials or testimonies and tools and apply them in a way that is underpinned by UCL methods and strategies.’ 

In March 2022, CSS became only the second school to be re-accredited as a Quality Mark UCL Beacon School, thanks in no small part to Tony’s continued drive, innovation, passion and commitment. In recent years, the creative, inclusive and inspiring work undertaken across the provision has garnered national and international acclaim: whether contributing to the #EYP2CtW conference, creating powerful resources, training and supporting colleagues to provide memorable, impactful Holocaust Learning Weeks for HMD, presenting at conferences, working closely with both the Prime Minister’s Commission and the Home Office in shaping future policy and practice, publishing in journals, Tony has ensured his learners have had to quality provision for and experience of Holocaust education. The accreditation Quality Mark review found ‘There is ample evidence to suggest that because of the work that is taking place at CSS, its learners have important opportunities to become the informed, actively engaged and empowered local, national and global citizens we need.’

Tony’s departure will leave a void in CSS and its local community – but his role as a Beacon Lead Teacher, his hard work and commitment over so many years has ensured a rich and vibrant culture and legacy. When Tony notified us, by email, ‘the time has come’, what was especially moving and revealing of his ethos and mentality, was his commitment to succession planning and the sense of passing on a baton, and we look forward to continuing to partner and support CSS alongside Kerry White and Carla Blainey.

We take this newsletter opportunity to recognise the enduring commitment and legacy of Tony’s time at CSS, we are incredibly grateful for his advocacy, friendship and support over the years. We know him to be a skilful and reflective practitioner and know, in word and deed, he will have shaped so many hearts and minds throughout his public service. Thankyou Tony. We wish you well for whatever the next chapter brings he and his family.”