Decline in UK School Participation in Holocaust Memorial Day: A Concerning Trend Since October 7th

Introduction

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Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), is observed annually on 27th, January, and serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. It was established by the UK government in 2001, following the 2000 Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust (where the Stockholm Declaration was adopted by 46 governments, including the UK). The first national Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) in the UK took place on 27th January 2001, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.

In May 2005, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (a government-funded charity) was formally established to take over coordination and promotion of the day from the Home Office. They provide a dedicated range of free educational resources, that can be integrated into the curriculum or in order to hold dedicated events. They also provide support to help teachers and students mark the day meaningfully, learn about the Holocaust, Nazi persecution, and subsequent genocides (in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur), and reflect on contemporary issues like prejudice, discrimination, and social responsibility.

However, recent data reveals a sharp decline in secondary school participation in HMD events, coinciding with the aftermath of the October 7th, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the ensuing Israel-Gaza conflict.

This drop has raised serious concerns among educators, community leaders, and policymakers about the politicisation of Holocaust education and its implications for combating antisemitism. With approximately 4,200 secondary schools in the UK, only a fraction are now actively engaging in these commemorations, prompting questions about the future of historical memory in education.

Statistical Decline in Participation

Participation in HMD had been on an upward trajectory since 2019, reflecting growing commitment to Holocaust education. In 2023, more than 2,000 secondary schools signed up for events. However, following the October 7th attacks, the numbers began to fall sharply.

  • In 2024, participation dropped to around 1,200 schools, a reduction of about 800 from the previous year.
  • By 2025, the figure had decreased further to just 854 schools, representing an overall 60% decline since 2023.
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Bar chart representation of the Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) participation data for UK secondary schools

These statistics, provided by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT), highlight a troubling reversal in engagement. The Trust, which offers free resources including lesson plans and activities, has noted that this decline affects the ability to foster empathy and prevent prejudice among students.

Voices of Concern

Prominent figures have voiced deep unease about this trend. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has been particularly outspoken, emphasising that HMD should remain apolitical.

“Holocaust Memorial Day is not a platform for political debate. It is not an endorsement of any government, perspective or conflict. It is an act of human memory.” He further warned: “I fear for what will happen this year. For if we cannot teach our children to remember the past with integrity and resolve, then we must ask ourselves what kind of future they will inherit.”

Mirvis has suggested that some teachers may be opting for the “path of least resistance” by avoiding events to sidestep controversy. In a related statement, he noted: “The Shoah was not inevitable. It began not in concentration camps but in classrooms, newspapers and public squares where people learnt to look away.” (In Hebrew, “shoah” literally means catastrophe. Used as a proper noun, “Shoah” refers to attempts to eradicate the Jewish population of Europe in the 1930s and 1940s by Nazis during and before World War II. The proper noun “Holocaust” is used in the same way.)

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/21/israel-actions-gaza-not-genocide-uk-chief-rabbi-sir-ephraim-mirvis

Olivia Marks-Woldman, chief executive of the HMDT, has urged educators to continue organising activities, stressing the importance of classroom discussions in marking the day, and its role as a universal lesson in humanity, empathy, and preventing hatred.

Underlying Reasons and Pressures

The decline appears linked to heightened tensions following October 7th, 2023, which saw over 1,200 Israelis brutally attacked and killed and hundreds more taken hostage, including young children, and the elderly.

Reports indicate that some schools have faced pressures from parents, staff, or external groups, leading to cancellations or modifications of events. For instance, the Anne Frank Trust reported that three schools in England and Wales postponed Holocaust education programs in 2024 due to “community tensions.” Broader issues include claims that Holocaust education is “propaganda” or must be balanced with discussions of other conflicts, such as Gaza. Some Muslim groups have campaigned for boycotts, arguing that commemorations should address ongoing “genocides” like they assert, without proof, that there is such a genocide in Palestine, they claim this is necessary to prevent hypocrisy.

The HMDT itself acknowledged in 2024 an “adverse year” marked by rises in both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, which impacted commemorations. Additionally, incidents like the cancellation of a Jewish MP’s school visit in Bristol due to pro-Palestine campaigns highlight the polarised environment, and the harm ideological false narratives, that ignore historical facts, cause in society.

Broader Context of Antisemitism in Education

This trend occurs amid a surge in antisemitic incidents across the UK and in UK schools since October 2023. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has pledged to address this, launching a review to ensure schools can identify and respond to antisemitism. Phil Rosenberg, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, welcomed the initiative, noting numerous concerning incidents, explicitly including the recent high-profile case involving Jewish Labour MP Damien Egan.

Key examples and broader patterns include:

  • The cancellation of Damien Egan’s school visit: In September 2025, a planned visit by Bristol North East MP Damien Egan (who is Jewish and supportive of Israel) to Bristol Brunel Academy was cancelled following pressure from the local branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), reportedly with involvement from members of the National Education Union (NEU). This was described as “shocking and completely unacceptable” by Phillipson, who has commissioned an independent investigation by the school’s academy trust (Cabot Learning Federation) and prompted Ofsted to inspect the school. The incident is cited as a recent trigger for her broader review.
  • Wider surge in school-related antisemitism: Reports from the Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitic incidents in the UK, show significant increases:
  • 325 incidents in the schools sector in 2023 (a 232% rise from the previous year), with many post-October 7.
  • 260 incidents in 2024 (second-highest on record).
  • These include abusive behaviour toward Jewish pupils (e.g., on commutes or from classmates), threats to Jewish schools or pupils, assaults, and damage to property. A notable proportion occurs in non-Jewish (mainstream) schools, affecting Jewish children through harassment, intimidation, or exposure to prejudice linked to Middle East tensions.
  • Other related concerns: Broader issues raised in connection with Phillipson’s actions include children (as young as 10) skipping school to attend protests related to the Palestine/Israel conflict, potential failures in schools’ ability to handle prejudice impartially, and cases like a teacher praising Hamas who was allowed to continue working (prompting a separate urgent review of Teaching Regulation Agency processes).

Critics argue that unions like the National Education Union (NEU) have contributed to hostility, with some branches promoting anti-Israel views, leading to Jewish teachers feeling unsafe. However, the NEU states it is committed to anti-racism, including combating antisemitism…

Responses and Initiatives

In response, the HMDT continues to provide resources tailored for schools, including new educational materials on discrimination for ages 9-16. The 2026 theme, “Bridging Generations,” emphasises passing on remembrance to younger cohorts. For teachers like myself, the Trust’s website offers free downloads for organising events, from assemblies to candle-lighting ceremonies, to help reinvigorate participation despite challenges.

A Note on the Appalling Trend and Curriculum Integrity

It is appalling that educational establishments are not upholding the vital remembrance of the Holocaust, an atrocious period in history that changed the course of the lives of Jews forever. The Holocaust remains compulsory in England’s Key Stage 3 History curriculum (ages 11–14), where by law, children must be taught about it as part of the national history provision. However, HMD-specific commemorations rely on voluntary school uptake of HMDT materials, assemblies, and events. If this trend continues, it could signal a weakening of structured, annual reflection on these histories in schools.

This raises critical questions: Are schools really teaching what matters, or has pressure from extremist groups had an impact on how this period is presented? Evidence suggests that since October 7th, 2023, community pressures and tensions have led to postponements of Holocaust education programs in schools, amid a broader rise in antisemitic incidents in educational settings. Pressures, including boycotts and calls to “balance” Holocaust remembrance with other conflicts, may be influencing teachers to alter or avoid in-depth discussions, diluting the focus on the unique horrors of the Shoah and its lessons against hatred. This external influence from groups advocating for politicised narratives risks undermining the integrity of Holocaust education, making it essential for educators to resist and prioritise factual, empathetic teaching.

Conclusion

The halving of school involvement in HMD since October 2023 underscores the need to depoliticise Holocaust education and reaffirm its universal lessons. As Mirvis warns, failing to teach history with integrity risks a future marred by repeated prejudices. Stakeholders must collaborate to support educators in this vital work. If you’re a teacher, parent, or involved in a school, the Trust’s website offers free materials to help organise activities.

From schools and libraries to museums and prisons, HMD activities take place in diverse settings. Explore the links below for ideas, support and guidance for your activity. Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) supports individuals and organisations in marking HMD each year, by providing free resources, historical information and ideas of how to get involved.

Click here to access: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) Website

If you have any questions about getting involved please feel free to contact the office directly by email enquiries@hmd.org.uk or phone 020 7785 7029.

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https://hmd.org.uk/resource/hmd-image-library

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