Phone: 01793 841900

For further details please contact :

Miss N Wetherall - Lead Practitioner for the Holocaust and

Genocide Programme

E-mail: nwt@woottonbassett.wilts.sch.uk

Lime Kiln, Royal Wootton Bassett

Nr Wiltshire, Swindon

SN4 7HG

The Holocaust &

Genocide

Programme (HGP)

We believe Holocaust education captures opportunities for

holistic, academically vigorous and authentic interdisciplinary

work, drawing upon different ways of understanding

knowledge.

We understand that Holocaust education is possible for all if

lessons are outstanding; well planned, age and development

tailored, differentiated and made relevant to all.

We appreciate progress is not simply levelled or examined

achievement, but can be personal, holistic and attitudinal.

This is in-keeping with the Values Education principles: cogni-

tive, emotional, attitude and behaviour, as we enable stu-

dents to have a sense of what they can do having studied this

subject.

We recognise the importance of bearing witness – ‘You are

my witness’ Isaiah 43:10, Deuteronomy 4:9.

We consider remembrance and memorialisation to be neces-

sary and appropriate.

We reject all forms of preju-

dice and stereotyping.

We encourage our students

to be responsible, informed,

empathetic and engaged glob-

al citizens—and the HGP

allows us the scope and

flexibility to offer these chal-

lenging teaching and learn-

ing opportunities.

We believe that teaching

about the Holocaust and Genocide matters and that it re-

mains relevant to our students, staff, parents and the wider

local and global community in both the modern world and

ILLUMINATE, INNOVATE,

CO-OPERATE, DISSEMINATE

Mr Kneller explores

‘reading an image’ at a

Family Learning Event

Our approach

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy

Tackling prejudice, intolerance and stereotypes

Celebrating diversity, dignity and human rights

Encouraging our students to be responsible, informed,

empathetic and engaged global citizens

At Royal Wootton Bassett Academy we advocate an ILLUMINATE,

INNOVATE, CO-OPERATE and DISSIMINATE approach to Holocaust

and Genocide education.

In-keeping with our values and Academy ethos, and our Beacon

School status, we believe that it is our role to illuminate the im-

portance of such complex subjects as the Holocaust and genocide—

and in doing so foster best practice in teaching and learning, based

upon IOE research and our own evaluation and reflective practice.

Such teaching and learning demands innovative teaching and

learning approaches, ensuring that lessons are engaging, creative,

relevant, responsible and substantive.

We feel such pedagogical aims can only be achieved in co-

operation with our partners; fellow RWBA staff, IOE partners, link

schools, external agencies; both national and international.

With such a commitment to outstanding teaching and learning

comes a desire to disseminate best practice and to engage parents

and the local community.

Delivering Holocaust and Geno-

cide training to PGCE students at

Southampton University; Memo-

rial Artwork and support from

Martin Bell OBE

‘Holocaust Day was a

day in school I will

never forget’ - Year 9

‘Hearing the survivors story was so

sad but so amazing at the same

time’ - Year 9 student

‘The legacy of genocide was

something I had never considered,

Rwanda Day showed me that

genocide doesn't end with the

killing’ - Year 12 student

‘I cant believe that its

still happening! Why

isn't more being done?’

Year 1O student

Genesis and Legacy

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy (RWBA) remains committed

to the need for Holocaust Education and

memorialising in school and the wider

community. We are convinced that re-

membering the Holocaust should not be

considered a specifically Jewish catastro-

phe (despite the uniqueness of their per-

secution by the Nazis) nor a historical

event to be recalled – but that the suffer-

ing of Jews, Roma and Sinti, Jehovah’s

Witnesses, Homosexuals, the disabled,

political opponents and Poles should act

as a reminder to all peoples for the need

for vigilance. Despite the post war ‘Never

again’ mantra the international communi-

ty has failed to guard against prejudice,

intolerance and ultimately Genocide. Racial hatreds and

crimes against humanity have sadly not become a distant

historical fact as the conflicts of the former Yugoslavia, Rwan-

da and now Darfur/South Sudan testify. In our own society,

despite significant changes in law, education programmes and

individuals attitudes, racial and religious differences prevail,

prejudices and a sense of injustice foster hatred; be that evi-

denced with the playground bully or in tensions implicit or

explicit within multi-cultural communities.

We are certain our RWBA students should be aware of the

world around them and be exposed to the lessons of the Hol-

ocaust and reflect on the horrors of those days in a modern

age of genocide. Therefore, since 2009 Holocaust and Geno-

cide Education has played a central role within the curriculum

and ethos of RWBA. Since its inaugural Holocaust Day and

Awareness and Memorial Evening, the initial vision of this

programme has grown into an inspirational initiative com-

mitted to exposing the evil of prejudice, injustice and hatred.

The genesis of a memorable student led Memorial event

championed the human spirit and all the good that humans

can achieve, whilst recognizing the past and current horrors

that mankind is capable of.

The HGP: Who? What? Why? When? How? Your Questions answered

A Beacon School

Following much national and international recognition for our

work, in 2012 we were proud to be awarded Beacon School sta-

tus. This accolade was conferred by The Institute of Education

(IOE) at The University of London, the UKs foremost institution for

educational research, theory and practice. The work of Centre for

Holocaust Education combines the IOEs extensive research into

classroom needs with a programme uniquely responsive to the

issues that teachers and pupils face in studying this complex and

emotionally –charged subject. We are very honoured to work

collaboratively with staff at the centre who

support our efforts and our staff and linked

schools colleagues receive the most current

pedagogical advice and training as to inno-

vations in teaching and learning in this area.

Why are we a Beacon

School?

Because at RWBA we recognise that

the Holocaust is an essential and dy-

namic part of a student’s education; enabling young people

to deepen their understanding of the significance of the

Holocaust to the modern world and to be able to ask intelli-

gent, complex, but appropriate, ques-

tions of the narrative.

We appreciate the complex challenges

that the Holocaust raises as a school

subject.

We believe there is a necessary connec-

tion between study, scholarship and

activism (or at least providing

the means by which students

can act should they feel com-

pelled to do so)

We have a proven track record in investing in teacher pro-

fessional development in Holocaust education; a commit-

ment to increasing expertise and teaching standards to

advanced levels.

We understand that a Holocaust and genocide programme

is a journey of collaboration and reflection: a process ra-

ther than a destination

We value partnership links with primary, local secondary

and national schools and the creativity and innovation such

collaboration brings responsibly prepare, engage and sup-

port our students and staff throughout participation.

We have the drive, ambition and commitment to ensuring

standards in Holocaust and genocide teaching and learning

are exceptional; to play a significant part at the forefront

of best innovative practice in the UK.

We enjoy the support and active engagement of senior

leadership and the willingness of a collective body of staff

prepared to deliver aspects of the programme to make

new ideas work, as part of a reflective working group.

We recognise that the emergence of good practice is best

generated in partnership with other colleagues, leadership

and forward looking, risk taking schools.

Year 9 students

reflect on how

small choices can

lead to big conse-

quences in the

short film ‘Pigeon’

Bosnian survivor

Kemal Pervanic,

regularly inspires

the students with

his testimony.

HRH The Duke of Gloucester discusses innovative

Year 9 Holocaust memorial designs with students and

staff as part of his 2012 visit in recognition of our

unique Holocaust and Genocide programme

‘Mrs Eva Clarke—the

baby born in a

concentration

camp—delivers her

Holocaust testimony