Every state school in England and both state and independent schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with post-16 provision is invited to take part in Lessons from Auschwitz. Applications are now open.
Lessons from Auschwitz will offer students the unique opportunity to learn about the history of the Holocaust through a bespoke online learning environment, accessing artefacts, text, film, and a one-day Visit to Poland to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. Students will consider the individuals whose lives were affected by the Holocaust and the relevance of the Holocaust today by:
- Taking part in two online seminars, led by experts in the history of the Holocaust and Holocaust education
- Hearing directly from Holocaust survivors, who will share their personal experiences, including during a live survivor testimony and Q&A
- Participating in a one-day Visit to Poland
- Considering the relevance of this history in today’s world
- Sharing what they have learnt within their school and wider community.
All Lessons from Auschwitz participants will be required to join two online seminars, and complete self-guided modules – all available via our LFA Online platform. At the end of the project they will devise their own initiative (their ‘Next Steps’) through which they can share what they’ve learnt and encourage others to ensure the Holocaust is remembered.
All online seminars last approximately 2.5 hours. At least one of these seminars will take place on a Sunday. Independent, online learning will be completed in the student’s own time, and modules should take approximately 2.5 hours to complete in total. All projects take place over 9-10 days.
Participating students will require access to a computer, laptop or handheld device (tablet) to complete the independent learning journey and attend online seminars. Prior to the Project, all participants will receive an educational pack in the post, including hard copy materials. Students will still be able to take part in the Project without a smartphone.
I want to apply, what shall I do next?
- If you would like to make an application for your school to take part, please complete our application form.
- Once you have applied, you will become a coordinating teacher. By becoming a coordinating teacher, you are agreeing to become the point-of-contact between your school and the Holocaust Educational Trust, for the duration of the course.
- We will be in touch to confirm whether you have been allocated a place. Please note, spaces on our courses usually fill up fast.
- If you are allocated a place, you will be asked to select students to take part in Lessons from Auschwitz. Please do ensure that the students you put forward are able to commit to all components of the course (two online seminars, self-guided learning and completion of Next Steps) and ensure that all students complete their registration process within the relevant deadlines.
- Please be sure that the students you have selected have access to a computer, laptop or handheld device (tablet) and, if possible, a smartphone. As most students will complete their independent, online learning outside of school hours, students must have access to these devices outside of school time.
- Coordinating teachers are responsible for ensuring students have gained access to the online learning platform in advance of the course starting and that students understand all relevant information about their participation in Lessons from Auschwitz.
- Coordinating teachers are responsible for informing the school and Local Authority of their students’ participation on the course and gaining permission from their parent/guardian. They are also required to oversee and support the students both before and after the Project, and as they undertake their Next Steps.
Participating Students
- We welcome two students from every state school in England. Schools with over 300 students may apply for two additional places.
- Participating students must be able to take part in all components of the course.
- All students will be asked to complete an online registration form – upon completion they will be sent access details for the online learning platform. We ask that students complete forms by the deadline.
Participating Teachers
- We offer a very limited number of teacher places on the course. The coordinating teacher can request an additional place at the point of application. All participating teachers are expected to join both online seminars in addition to the one-day visit to Poland.