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to teach the Holocaust
editorial@sec-ed.com
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Publisher
by Charles Gubert
Ben Allen
Editor
Pete Henshaw – 020 7501 6771
Teachers are not receiving the
pete.henshaw@markallengroup.
necessary support to teach the
com
Holocaust, according to a report
Deputy editor by the Holocaust Education
David Taylor – 020 7501 6772 Development Programme (HEDP).
david.taylor@markallengroup.com Teaching about the Holocaust in
Chief reporter English Secondary Schools polled
Chris Parr – 020 7501 6750
2,108 teachers about their under-
Illustrator
standing of the Holocaust and more
Christos Mais
than 80 per cent said that they
had taught themselves about the
Editorial advisory panel
subject.
Paul Ainsworth, Deputy
The report states: “The Holocaust
headteacher, Belvoir High School,
is the subject of continuing, detailed
Leicestershire. Mark Blois,
academic research and it is vital that
Browne Jacobson. Leo Gilbert,
CPD in this area includes opportu-
Vice principal, Harris Academy,
nities for teachers to update their
south London. Hilary Moriarty,
subject knowledge in ways that lead
National director, Boarding to more effective, meaningful and
Schools’ Association. Neill challenging learning experiences
Morton, Headteacher, Portora for their students.”
Royal School, Enniskillen. Helen Paul Salmons, head of cur-
Lessons of the past:
Nurton, Assistant headteacher, riculum and development at the
Students on the visit to the
Guildford County School, Surrey. HEDP, claimed that overwhelming
Auschwitz concentration
Tina Stockman, Teacher, Harlaw
numbers of teachers did feel that
camp in Poland
Academy, Aberdeen. Ray Tarleton,
teaching about the Holocaust was
Headteacher, South Dartmoor
important.
Community College, Ashburton,
He said: “Many teachers say would be shot or sent to concentra- most teachers were unaware of the won’t happen if teachers don’t “This is why the HET is proud
Devon. Dr Bernard Trafford,
they find it a challenge to teach such tion camps. There is no record of wide range of resources on the have access to new knowledge to be working with the HEDP to
Headteacher, The Royal Grammar
a complex issue in a short period this ever happening. Holocaust being offered to them. and appropriate materials. Then assess the current situation and
School, Newcastle upon Tyne.
of time. Our survey also found that “Also, there tends to be an The HEDP is now launching the myths will continue to go ensure teachers receive the neces-
Simon Viccars, Headteacher, Leon
teacher knowledge on the Holocaust emphasis on Nazi policy, rather a national programme of CPD, unchallenged.” sary resources and guidance to edu-
School and Sports College, Milton
sometimes came from popular dis- than looking at the responses of the designed to provide free educa- Karen Pollock, chief executive cate about this important subject.”
Keynes. Alex Wood, Headteacher,
course and not academic sources. victims. Teachers might explore the tional resources for teachers on the of the Holocaust Educational Trust For more on the Holocaust
Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh.
“This can lead to misconcep- many forms of Jewish resistance so Holocaust. (HET), added: “Research into teach- Educational Trust, visit www.het.
tions. Some teachers believe the that students do not see all victims Mr Salmons added: “Education ing the Holocaust is crucial for the org.uk and for the Holocaust educa-
common assumption that German as a passive mass.” should challenge myths and popu- future development and delivery of tional development programme, go
Sales director
soldiers who refused to kill Jews The report also discovered that lar misconceptions. But, this this subject to future generations. to www.hedp.org.uk
Matt Govett – 020 7501 6735
Business development
manager
Abdul Hayee – 020 7501 6776
Exclusions to be investigated
Classified sales
Catholic schools to
Rachel McElhinney – 020 7501 6728 Schools which operate “illegal should be able to say ‘no – you but schools should not be able to do
exclusions” will come under can’t ask me to take my child out it by the back door.”
Subscription manager the spotlight in a new study by of school for a day or two’. The The charity bosses are set to have
phase out selection
Chris Hoskins
children’s charities in Wales. Assembly guidance is quite clear talks with Welsh Assembly govern-
Circulation director
Barnardo’s Cymru and Snap about that, but it’s still happening. ment officials to discuss their plans to
Sally Boettcher
Cymru say there is evidence to sug- “It’s a double standard. There’s investigate the scale of the practice. All Catholic post-primary schools for grammars to end selecting
gest pupils – particularly those with all this shouting about not taking The Welsh Assembly govern- in Northern Ireland must become pupils on academic grounds,
behavioural problems – are often children out of school for holidays ment’s Action Plan, following the comprehensive in the next three they had not been specific until
Circulation department:
unofficially excluded from school. during term-time, but unofficially National Behaviour and Attendance years, Church leaders say. now about how it should be
Tel: 01722 716997
Barnardo’s Cymru said examples we have heads saying ‘just keep Review, acknowledged the issue of The Catholic Church says all done.
Fax: 01722 716926
email: subscriptions@
of illegal exclusions had includ- them off school for a day or two’.” “unofficial exclusions”. faith grammar schools must begin The NICCE, which represents
markallengroup.com
ed reports of children being sent Mr Sayce said most children SNAP Cymru assistant director, phasing out academic selection trustees, now says that beginning
home from school because they had affected by voluntary exclusions Mary Jones, said the charity wanted next year – and scrap entrance with the September 2010 intake,
UK annual rates:
dyed their hair, and another when a were those with behavioural dif- to work with schools, local authori- tests by 2012. “there should be a gradual but
child’s one-to-one support had been ficulties, disabilities, or those ties and the government to “eradi- Catholic grammars are also substantial annual downward
Personal £50
absent from school. from deprived backgrounds. He cate this illegal practice”. being asked to set out exactly adjustment in the number of
Institutional (libraries,
The charity’s assistant direc- said it was essential that schools A Welsh Assembly government how they plan to reduce the pupils admitted using academic
companies etc) £110
tor, John Sayce, defined an illegal used interventions that made a real spokeswoman said: “As a govern- proportion of places awarded criteria”.
Europe annual rates:
exclusion as one that had not been difference to such pupils, instead ment, we want to ensure that our on academic grounds from 100 “Such a plan should explicitly
Personal £92 officially labelled as fixed-term or of just sending them home from children and young people are kept per cent to zero. indicate realistic, responsible and
Institutional £165 permanent. school. in mainstream education and as The Northern Ireland verifiable figures, moving from
Rest of world annual rates: He said: “These illegal exclu- He added: “We are fully behind much as possible is done to avoid Commission for Catholic the current 100 per cent to zero,”
Personal £113 sions just shouldn’t happen. Parents the drive to reduce pupil exclusions, their being excluded.” Education (NICCE) says it is it added.
Institutional £209
fully committed to a policy of “It will mean that the last
Film tackles SEN bullying
ending selection at 11. cohort to admit 100 per cent
Printed by
It adds that the prospect of through academic criteria in
Pensord Press, Wales
an unregulated testing system is Catholic grammar schools will
causing a huge degree of anxiety be September 2009.”
Published by
A new DVD resource aimed at The short film chronicles the “We welcome any bullying preven- to pupils, parents, teachers and Against a background of
tackling the bullying of children effects of bullying on a disabled tion schemes, which promise to governors. falling rolls, which have led to
with SEN or disabilities has been young man and features a support- engage children with the topic of The commission intends significant reductions in school
made available to all schools. ive message from Arsenal football bullying and help them understand to press ahead with plans for budgets, new models are already
The resource has been welcomed player, Cesc Fàbregas. its devastating impact. But, as ever, major school re-organisations being devised – each removing
St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road
by bullying charities, who have Schools minister, Vernon more must be done.” that will see traditional models academic selection.
Herne Hill, London SE24 0PB
emphasised the disproportionate Coaker, announced the launch of Mark Lever, chief executive of of grammar and non-grammar They include the pro-
www.markallengroup.com
numbers of young people with SEN the DVD, entitled Make Them Go the NAS, said: “It is vital that schooling disappear. posed merger of St Michael’s
and disabilities who become the Away, at a school in London last teaching staff are given the right Most Catholic grammars will Grammar, St Paul’s Junior High,
victims of bullying. Thursday (September 17). training and resources to help them forge ahead with new entrance and St Mary’s Girls’ in Lurgan
Beatbullying said this week that He said: “Taunting and demon- understand autism and recognise exams in November in the into a single “all-ability, co-edu-
nine per cent of young people it ising a young person because of when a child with this serious, absence of a state 11-plus, which cational institution”.
MA Education Ltd is an independent
worked with and supported had their disability is particularly nasty. lifelong and disabling condition is has been scrapped. One of the North’s most pres-
publishing company also responsible
SEN, while research by the National That’s why we have produced the being bullied, and to deal with it Feeder primaries have criti- tigious grammar schools – St
for education titles Early Years
Autistic Society (NAS) shows that DVD to raise awareness of the effectively.” cised this plan as unfair, educa- MacNissi’s (Garron Tower) on
Educator and 5to7 Educator.
over 40 per cent of young people with problem with young people and The DVD resource pack will be tionally unsound, and contrary to the County Antrim coast – is also
© All rights reserved. No part of SecEd may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any
autism had been bullied at school. prevent bullying occurring in the available for all secondary schools Catholic ethos. to be stripped of its grammar
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior written permission of MA Education
The DVD is being launched first place.” in hard copy and online. This will While trustees – the schools’ label and merged with two sec-
The publisher accepts no responsibility for any views or opinions
expressed in SecEd.
by the Department for Children, Emma Jane Cross, chief execu- be advertised to schools through an owners – had expressed a desire ondary schools.
ISSN 1479-7704
Schools and Families (DCSF). tive of Beatbullying, told SecEd: email from the DCSF.
 SecEd • September 24 2009
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