We are sharing this invitation from Nicola Weatherall MBE, Lead Practitioner, RWBA Holocaust, genocide and human rights programme (HPG), Royal Wootton Bassett Academy (RWBA).
Invitation to join the programme
Our ‘The Holocaust, their Family, Me and Us’ initiative continues to flourish (and make the news) and we invite you, a colleague, your school (or schools within your MAT, cluster or family of schools) to join us this summer term, to become part of our immersive, creative and engaging enrichment project rooted in Holocaust education, but is so much more besides!
Our project, #HtFMeUs, is based on the BBC two-part documentary series ‘My Family, the Holocaust and Me’, and we have successfully developed this project, with the support of all the families featured, including Robert Rinder MBE, the experts and Wall to Wall media and the BBC.
Now reaching 300+ secondary schools, 6th form colleagues, specialist or alternative provisions settings across the country, and is garnering national and international acclaim. Our #HtFMeUs project aims to:
- Deepen knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust (the Holocaust) and to complement existing curriculum provision.
- To humanise that history with each school immersed in one of four family stories from the documentary (their family)
- To facilitate opportunities to reflect as individuals what this history, family story, experiences mean (‘me’)
- To enable schools to collectively consider what this history, family story, experience means to school and local community (‘us’)
The project is FREE – it requires a coordinator teacher who will facilitate the project in their school – this might be a history, RE, English, ART, MFL, music, citizenship or social science colleague, or it could a cross-curricular and inter-disciplinary opportunity for colleagues. The project typically takes the format of a group of students, usually 15-30 participating, in an after-school enrichment club (though in some schools the project has been adopted by a whole year group or indeed a whole school, or with 3-5 students in specialist education settings), meeting weekly or fortnightly. Some alumni project schools have also since engagement, adopted to the project into their curriculum, drop down days, personal development or enrichment and pastoral windows. The project supports civics, emotional literacy, SMSC, civics and a range of themes, concepts and school priorities, including community cohesion, safeguarding and more – and is inclusive for all learners, both stage and age.
How to get involved
Schools are invited to join an online teacher briefing at 3.30pm on Wednesday 3rd July, to learn about this well established project, ask questions, explore next steps and think about getting plans for September and gain access to the materials. The session is on zoom at this link (Meeting ID: 924 835 3600 Passcode: 878776)
This would set you up for a spring/summer term start with pupils and have you best placed for an upcoming student launch session. The earliest online student launch for new schools or cohorts is 2.00-3.30pm on Wednesday 25th September via the same zoom link. The organisers are also offering to run a launch session, bespoke to your school or group upon request.
The project website can be found and explored here: https://www.htfmeus.co.uk/
Essentially, the project sees your school/students allocated one of four family stories featured in the BBC documentary and taking up a variety of challenges, activities and opportunities that sees them immersed in the history, reflecting on contemporary relevance and applying their skills, passions and talents.
If interested do reach out, we will set you up with a project link and identity which family your school will be allocated.
Contact details
- Nicola Wetherall MBE
- Lead Practitioner, RWBA Holocaust, genocide and human rights programme (HPG)
- Royal Wootton Bassett Academy (RWBA)
- Founder of #HtFMeUs project and #EYP2CtW conference series.
- nwetherall@rwba.ascendlearningtrust.org.uk
- @RWBAHolocaust #HtFMeUs
The #HtFMeUs project is run by RWBA and supported by Ascend Learning Trust, Pears Foundation, with partners BBC/Wall to Wall Media, the families, UCL Centre for Holocaust Education and 45′ Aid Society.