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This year at Woodhey High School, Director of Global Learning Lee and History Teachers Fran, Eddie, Iain and Sophie have been working to build a new history curriculum that is aspirational, timely, ambitious and ultimately outstanding. In addition to planning and resourcing eighteen new schemes of learning for Key Stage 3 and four new GCSE units for Key Stage 4, Team History has also been busy building what we hope will become a world class genocides curriculum. Our research driven take on Holocaust Education foregrounds victim testimony and draws comparisons to genocides in Bosnia, Cambodia and Rwanda. Our goal with this scheme is to teach our students to be kinder, more respectful citizens, to fight injustice when they see it and to stand up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves. We are incredibly proud of our Genocides curriculum, and we are delighted to share that it has been recognised by the University College London, who have accepted Woodhey’s application to join the 2024-2025 Holocaust Beacon School cohort. Fran, who has been leading on Genocides, is chuffed to have been named Lead Teacher for Holocaust Education for the project, and is especially looking forward to sharing what he learns with the wider Shaw Trust.
What is the Beacon School Programme?
The Holocaust Beacon School programme, in collaboration with University College London (UCL), is an educational initiative designed to empower schools in commemorating and teaching about the Holocaust, with a focus on promoting understanding, empathy, and critical thinking among students. Throughout 2024-2025, UCL will support Woodhey to continue to deliver outstanding genocide education through a comprehensive curriculum development programme. This year, we are one of fewer than 20 schools to be successful in being accepted onto a programme that we are sure will have a lasting impact on staff, students and the local community.
What does it mean for Woodhey?
By participating in this programme, Woodhey will gain access to a wealth of resources, training, and support from experts in Holocaust education, including workshops, seminars, and materials tailored to our specific needs and curriculum requirements. Through engaging with survivor testimonies, historical documents, and interactive learning activities, our students will develop a deeper appreciation of the human impact of the Holocaust and its broader historical context, fostering empathy, tolerance, and a commitment to combatting prejudice and discrimination in their communities. Being part of the Holocaust Beacon School programme not only enhances our school's capacity to deliver high-quality Holocaust education but also provides recognition and validation of its commitment to promoting remembrance, understanding, and social justice, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and informed society.
Team History would like to thank the Global Learning Team and the Senior Leadership Team at Woodhey for the support they have given us throughout this project, and we would also like to extend thanks to our Trust Lead for Humanities Jenny Nicholls who has allowed us to lead on this area. We're really excited about what's to come!
