300 Schools to Become Holocaust Specialists
Source: TES Connect
Hundreds of schools across England are to become specialist centers of Holocaust education under a national scheme launched recently. The plan, which will be rolled out in 300 schools, forms part of the new £1.5 million Holocaust education program run by London University’s Institute of Education. The Holocaust Education Development Program (HEDP) will provide extensive specialist training for 3,500 teachers - one from every secondary in England.
The first cohort of 150 will attend a one-day workshop in London at the beginning of November and a second workshop three weeks later. This will be followed by similar sessions in Liverpool. The training will then be introduced across the country over the next two years. From these teachers, 300 will be able to follow up their training with a masters degree module in Holocaust education. Their schools will then become designated beacons of excellence in the subject.
The masters module, which will be delivered online, will be free to participating teachers. The cost will be covered jointly by the Pears Foundation and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
The specialist teachers, after undergoing training, will co-ordinate Holocaust education in their schools and will also pilot new teaching materials and provide feedback and suggestions for improvement. Eventually, they will work with local authorities, bringing coordinated Holocaust education into all local schools. They will also cooperate with teachers across the country as part of an online network supporting the national training program.
The HEDP has developed and is maintaining an effective interactive website with resources, advice, and information for teachers engaged in teaching about the Holocaust and information about its professional development program.