Tameside School hosts guests to the Anne Frank Exhibition for Holocaust Memorial Day

AN Anne Frank Exhibition has been held at Samuel Laycock School in Ashton to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

The exhibition History for Today is a temporary pop-up exhibition, which provides insight on the history of the Holocaust, focusing particularly on the Frank family’s experience of antisemitism and the events that forced them into hiding.

Each year, Tameside Council’s Arts and Engagement Team works with the Tameside SEN/SEND school art hub to co‑create an artistic response to Holocaust Memorial Day. As part of this collaboration, schools also work with the Anne Frank Trust UK and took part in workshops earlier this academic year.

Throughout the workshops, pupils were introduced to the exhibition and developed the knowledge and confidence to then lead their own guided tours for parents and fellow students.

On Thursday 15 January, the Deputy Civic Mayor of Tameside Cllr Helen Bowden and Executive Member for Lifelong learning and Culture Cllr Leanne Feeley, alongside ward councillors Cllr Mike Glover and Cllr Mohammed Shamsul Karim, were invited to view the exhibition.

Other invited guests included students from both Samuel Laycock and pupils and students from Thomas Ashton school.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, Cllr Leanne Feeley, said: “To have the Anne Frank Trust in Tameside, bringing the ‘A History for Today’ exhibition to one of our schools is such an honour and a wonderful learning opportunity for the pupils. The young people guided us around the display with incredible knowledge and skill, confidently sharing information and answering questions on a range of topics.

“It filled me with such pride to see the student’s guiding tours and having such a good understanding of the history of Anne Frank.  It was a credit to all involved.”

A spokesperson for Samuel Laycock school said: “Performing Arts Pathway at Samuel Laycock School, in Ashton, have been working with The Anne Frank Trust UK. Amber from the trust showed the students what life was like for Anne and her family during the Holocaust. They were then trained as peer guides and welcomed students from Thomas Ashton school and their own school peers and guided them around the exhibition in the school reception area. The mayor and local councillors came for a look around the exhibition too and looked at the artwork produced by the students around this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme of “Bridging Generations.”

A spokesperson for Thomas Ashton School said: “Thomas Ashton School greatly values its ongoing relationship with the Anne Frank Trust UK and always enjoys visiting the exhibition, where pupils take part in a powerful walk-through experience that helps them learn in depth about the life of Anne Frank, her experiences, and the historical context surrounding her story. Thomas Ashton School have had the privilege of hosting the exhibition in the past and hope to have the opportunity to do so again in the future, as it encourages reflection, empathy, and a deeper understanding of history and human rights. We wish the very best to this year’s hosts, Samuel Laycock School, and are confident that their pupils will greatly benefit from this inspiring and impactful experience.”

Education Delivery Manager Amber Allcock at Anne Frank Trust UK said: “The Anne Frank Trust is a charity that empowers young people aged 9 to 15 to challenge all forms of prejudice and discrimination, learning from Anne Frank and the Holocaust. We offer core programmes and workshops to primary and secondary schools to enhance young people's understanding of various topics such as antisemitism, islamophobia, homophobia and gender equality. One of our main focuses is peer education, where we encourage young people to use their learning to educate others. With rising levels of antisemitism in recent years, this education is highly valuable and we are grateful to be working with Samuel Laycock again to inspire the next generation of young people to go forward and make meaningful change.”