A Wiltshire secondary school welcomed a star-studded TV cast as they remembered the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust.
TV personality Judge Rinder MBE (also known as Robert Rinder), actress Louisa Clein and psychologist Bernie Graham all paid a visit to students at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy just after Holocaust Memorial Day.
All three celebrities have all recently appeared in the BBC docuseries My Family, The Holocaust and Me and are the second and third-generation children of families who were impacted by the Holocaust.
The docuseries has now inspired a nationwide school project called The Holocaust, Their Family, Me and Us which has reached more than240 secondary schools in England and gripped over 10,000 pupils.
Speaking to pupils, Robert, Louisa and Bernie all shared poems they had written prior to the day and delivered inspiring and heartfelt speeches about their families and how the Holocaust impacted them.
“It was so often told that in the darkness, people are forgetting that the number of survivors dwindles,” said Robert.
“That’s a particular problem, but this program demonstrates what is possible, and the light that when you have a group of committed teachers and educators that come together to help young people piece history back together.
“This is what education should be about.
“At its very best it questions how we can enable our citizens to go into our communities with more courage to stand up to hate, in all of its forms, and this program best empowers young learners to do that, and that’s what makes me so proud to be alongside it.”
Holocaust Memorial Week at the school was organised and led by teacher Dr Nic Wetherall who designed a jam-packed week which included taking part in music, drama and art activities on the theme.
“It is important to me that these stories are highlighted as I came into teaching to inspire and empower younger people,” she said.
Students from Highfields School, Trinity Catholic School, Hanham Woods Academy and The Wellington Academy also attended alongside students at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy.
“Nic Wetherall has done a remarkable job in leading this national project and we are proud as a school to have her here with us here at RWBA, making an incredible impact on us all,” said headteacher Anita Ellis.
“A massive thank you also to our visitors for sharing their stories with us but also to the BBC, Pears Foundation and UCL for enabling this remarkable opportunity to take place at our school.”
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