Assemblies and Reading Drive Help Reflection for Holocaust Memorial Week

Great Yarmouth Charter Academy has been marking Holocaust Memorial Week with a programme of learning and reflection that places survivors' testimony at its heart—alongside a dedicated library campaign that has inspired pupils to read, research and reflect with maturity and compassion.

Throughout the week, pupils have engaged with the stories and journeys of Holocaust survivors who continue to share their experiences today. By encountering these first-hand accounts, students have been supported to understand more deeply the human impact of the Second World War and the Holocaust, and to recognise why remembrance remains vital for every generation. Central to the week’s assemblies has been the importance of challenging prejudice, valuing human dignity, and carrying forward a commitment to peace.

Assemblies led by Miss Henshaw and Mr Madeley

A series of assemblies, led by Miss Henshaw and Mr Madeley, has guided pupils through survivor narratives and thoughtful historical context. The assemblies were carefully designed to help pupils listen attentively, reflect respectfully, and consider how the lessons of the past connect to the choices and responsibilities young people hold today.

Pupils responded with genuine maturity. The assemblies created space not only for reflection, but also for empathy—encouraging students to consider how they can help build communities where discrimination is challenged and where respect and inclusion are lived every day.

Miss Henshaw said:

“Holocaust Memorial Week asks us to do more than remember dates and facts—it asks us to listen to people. Survivor stories help our pupils understand the human impact behind history and why remembrance still matters today. I have been incredibly proud of the respect and kindness our students have shown this week.”

Library campaign sparks peak interest in loans and learning

Alongside assemblies, the academy library ran a focused campaign highlighting books and resources centred on Holocaust survivor experiences. Displays, recommended reads and guided signposting encouraged pupils to explore books that bring history to life through real voices and lived experience. The library saw a peak in interest and book loans, with pupils choosing to borrow biographies, non-fiction, and other carefully selected titles linked to survivor testimony and wartime history. Staff were particularly encouraged by the purposeful way students approached reading—selecting books to understand, reflect and learn, and showing sensitivity and respect in how they discussed what they had discovered.

Holocaust Memorial Week is not only about looking back—it is also about what we carry forward. Across both the assemblies and the library campaign, pupils were encouraged to connect remembrance with everyday actions: choosing kindness, challenging stereotypes, standing up to injustice, and helping to shape communities built on dignity and respect.