On Monday, our school community marked Holocaust Memorial Day with a Senior School Assembly, centred on this year’s theme: ‘Bridging Generations’. The assembly was led by Mr Cawsey, Head of Religious Studies, and included contributions from Ms Croucher and several students who took part in the RS Department’s visit to Poland in October 2025. Anjolie and Darcey (Year 11) spoke about their experience at the Oskar Schindler Museum, while Helene and Asha ( Year 11) reflected on their visit to Auschwitz‑Birkenau. Pola (Year 13) shared insight into the work of the Galicia Jewish Museum and its role in ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust remain relevant to younger generations.
At a time when there has been public discussion about Holocaust education becoming less visible nationally, this moment felt important to mark. Deputy Head Ben Turner explained;
“Holocaust Memorial Day is not only about historical knowledge, but about moral understanding: about what happens when prejudice, dehumanisation and indifference are allowed to take root. It invites young people to think carefully about responsibility, empathy and the consequences of silence.”
Towards the end of the assembly, Mr Cawsey emphasised the significance of Holocaust Memorial Day and the vital role of Holocaust education:
“Having listened to our students comments about their trip to Poland, may we carry with us the lessons entrusted to us. May we listen more carefully, speak more thoughtfully, and act more compassionately. And may we continue to build bridges — between past and present, between one another, and between the world as it was and the world we want to help create.”
After the assembly, Year 9 students took part in ‘Life Matters Day’, an event organised by the Religious Studies Department to bring together key themes from ethics, philosophy, and politics. To enrich the day’s learning, three guest speakers were invited to WHS:
- David Wirth:
David Wirth spoke on behalf of the charity – ‘Generation2Generation’. One of the aims of ‘Generation2Generation’ is to enable every school student to learn from the experience of a Holocaust survivor as told by a close family member or friend. David was born in Hungary, and at three years old came with his father to the UK as a refugee from the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, followed some months later by his mother and brother. David tells his parents’ stories as a way of honouring them, albeit posthumously, and to demonstrate where prejudice, discrimination and unkindness can ultimately lead.
- Suzy Goldberg:
Suzy is a frequent visitor to WHS and always brings valuable insight into Orthodox Jewish beliefs and practices. During her discussions with Year 9, she explored a range of ethical issues within Orthodox Judaism, including teachings on divorce, the roles and responsibilities of women within the community, and the principles of equality as understood in Jewish law. She helped students understand how these ethical positions are shaped by Halakhah and encouraged thoughtful discussion about how these teachings are applied in contemporary Orthodox life.
- Jim Trimmer:
Jim, a Humanist celebrant, visited WHS to speak with our students about the core principles of Humanism. He explained that Humanists do not follow a religious text or divine authority; instead, they use reason, empathy, and an evidence‑based understanding of the world to guide their moral decisions. Jim also explored how Humanists determine what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, highlighting the importance of human welfare, personal responsibility, and the impact of our actions on others.
