Okehampton Community College – Assembly – HMD 2026

Activity information

Activity type: Public activity

Organisation name: Okehampton Community College

Address:
Okehampton Community College
Mill Road
Okehampton
Devon
EX20 1PW
United Kingdom

Okehampton College: Read a poem and lit candles at 8pm

In the week leading up to Holocaust Memorial Day, our 17 Beliefs and Values Ambassadors delivered a powerful and thoughtfully planned assembly to the entire student cohort. The assembly incorporated symbolic candle‑lighting, creating a reflective atmosphere and helping students engage emotionally with the theme of remembrance. This presentation was designed collaboratively by two of our Sixth Form students who had previously visited Auschwitz as part of an educational programme. Their first-hand insights and reflections brought authenticity and depth to the assembly, resonating strongly with both students and staff.
On 27th January, our original plan had been to attend the Holocaust Memorial Day event in Exeter. Unfortunately, due to the amber weather alert in place that day, it was not safe to transport students, and our visit had to be cancelled. Instead, to ensure the significance of the day was still marked meaningfully within school, we held a moment of reflection at 11am, during which a poem written by a Holocaust survivor was read aloud over the tannoy. This provided a unifying and solemn moment across the whole school community.
Students were also offered an optional homework activity, inviting them to light a candle at 8pm as part of the national act of remembrance. This encouraged families to take part in commemoration at home and extended the reflective element of the day beyond the school environment. All of our Holocaust Memorial Day activities were shared on the school’s social media platforms to raise awareness.
In the lead‑up to Holocaust Memorial Day, we also linked with the celebration of Hanukkah as part of our commitment to promoting understanding of different cultures and religious traditions. During this period, students were invited to the library to learn about the festival and take part in a game of dreidel. This offered an accessible and engaging way for students to encounter Jewish culture in a positive, celebratory context, supporting our wider beliefs and values curriculum.

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