At Woodhey, our first Holocaust Memorial Day as a Beacon School was marked by a week of cross-curricular activities (which you can read more about here: Woodhey Commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 | Woodhey High School). We had hoped the week would be one that didn’t solely focus on the teaching of history but also embraced the celebration of life and culture, and the concepts of memory and memorialisation. In doing this, we aimed to help our students understand the relevance of the Holocaust to their own lives and to the world today. On reflection, it was a resounding success made possible by the unwavering support of the school’s Head Teacher – Dean Watson – and the Shaw Education Trust’s Director of Humanities – Jenny Nicholls.
Throughout the week, students engaged in activities designed to encourage reflection and connection. In Global Learning, students explored testimonies from the Holocaust, bringing history to life through survivors and artefacts. The study of the Greenman family in History was especially powerful, with many students expressing how deeply moved they were by Barney’s story. One Year 9 student said ‘‘it made me think about how every number is actually a person with a life and a family and hopes and dreams.’
Maths and Computing students approached remembrance through design, creating Holocaust memorials to scale. In English and Spanish, students explored powerful poetry and multilingual texts, leading to meaningful discussions about the importance of speaking out against injustice. Our Drama groups built upon this further by performing First They Came. The performances were heartfelt and thought provoking.
Creative subjects also played a key role in helping students connect with Jewish culture and history. Food Technology classes filled the school with the scent of freshly baked challah bread and freshly made jam as students learned about Jewish traditions. Art and Technology students designed symbols of peace and remembrance. In Performance, students studied traditional Jewish music, reflecting on how identity endures.
Assemblies focused on the theme of choices and consequences, with students engaging in discussions about moral responsibility. They were particularly struck by the stories of individuals who made courageous—or devastating—choices during the Holocaust. Students were asked to reflect on the importance of standing up for what is right, even when that means making difficult choices. A standout moment of the week was seeing two of our Year 10 students represent Woodhey at the Bury Holocaust Memorial event, where they read poetry and lit candles in remembrance.
Reflecting on the week, what stands out most is the impact. Our students didn’t just learn about the past—they connected with it in ways that we hope will stay with them for a long time to come. The conversations sparked and the reflections shared show just how important and necessary this work is. As a Beacon School, we are committed to ensuring that Holocaust education continues to shape our students’ understanding of the world, their responsibility within it, and their ability to challenge injustice.
