The privilege of listening

One of the most powerful things about studying history is hearing the stories of the people who lived it.

On Wednesday, our Year 9 students had the remarkable opportunity to hear from Anne Super, a Holocaust survivor, who visited Marple Hall School to share her story.

For many years, our History Department has worked closely with the My Voice project, which preserves the testimonies of Holocaust survivors who made new lives in the North West. Through this work, our students study the Holocaust through deeply personal accounts, placing real human experiences at the heart of their learning.

You can find out more about the project here: https://myvoice.org.uk

This approach has become a hugely important part of our Year 9 curriculum. Students spend time reading and reflecting on survivors’ stories, so the chance to meet Ann in person was a rare and genuine privilege. As opportunities to hear directly from survivors become increasingly scarce, experiences such as this take on even greater significance.

I have heard from colleagues that our Year 9 students were outstanding throughout the event. Despite the exceptionally hot conditions, they listened attentively, showed real respect and represented the school brilliantly. We could not be prouder of them.

I would also like to thank the History Department for making opportunities like this possible. In particular, Mrs Fern deserves special recognition for the years of work she has invested in developing what has become a truly exceptional Holocaust unit. Her commitment to weaving survivor testimony into the curriculum has created a learning experience that is both academically rigorous and profoundly human.

We are incredibly grateful to Anne for sharing her experiences with our students. Her visit was a powerful reminder of the importance of remembrance, education and ensuring that these stories continue to be heard by future generations.

Finally, best of luck to Year 10 who head out on work experience next week.

Have a great weekend all.

Joe Barker

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