In the lead-up to Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27, Pool Academy held a series of assemblies and a live seminar to remember the victims of the Holocaust.

This year’s commemoration was particularly significant, marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The assemblies focused on the importance of justice after the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Students learned about the efforts made by the Allies to bring the perpetrators to justice, including the early efforts to hunt those responsible for the killings before the war had even ended.

They also discovered that each senior Nazi was given a fair trial at Nuremberg, with their own lawyer, to ensure that the trials could not be viewed as biased or unjust.

The week culminated in a live webcast from Mala Tribich MBE, a Holocaust survivor who endured the horrors of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. 15 Year 9 students had the privilege of hearing Mala’s personal testimony.

Mala shared her experiences as a young girl living under Nazi rule in Poland, and the hardships she faced as a 12 year old in one of the most infamous concentration camps. Students were not only able to listen to her story, but they also had the opportunity to ask questions.

As part of the commemorations, some Pool students wrote heartfelt letters to Mala, expressing their gratitude for her testimony and reflecting on the powerful impact it had on them.

Principal Nick Ward said: “Our students have shown incredible maturity in reflecting on such a difficult but vital part of history.

“The opportunity to hear from a survivor like Mala Tribich is one that will leave a lasting impact, and I am proud of the thoughtful questions and letters our students have written.

“It is so important that we continue to teach the lessons of the Holocaust and ensure that these stories are never forgotten.”