UK Schools Marking Holocaust Remembrance Day Decline by 60%
- The number of British schools commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day has dropped by nearly 60 percent in the past two years, according to a nonprofit dedicated to promoting...
- Observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which marks the day Auschwitz was liberated by the Red Army in 1945, had been rising in recent years, with more then...
- However, sence the Gaza war began with the hamas terror onslaught of October 7, 2023, unleashing a wave of antisemitism around the world, observance in the educational system...
The number of British schools commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day has dropped by nearly 60 percent in the past two years, according to a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the annual memorial on January 27.
Observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which marks the day Auschwitz was liberated by the Red Army in 1945, had been rising in recent years, with more then 2,000 secondary schools in the UK holding commemorative or educational events to memorialize the day in 2023, according to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT), a nonprofit established by the UK Government to promote and support International Holocaust Memorial Day.
However, sence the Gaza war began with the hamas terror onslaught of October 7, 2023, unleashing a wave of antisemitism around the world, observance in the educational system has been waning. Just under 1,200 held events in 2024, and only 854 schools did so in 2025, out of approximately 4,200 secondary schools across the country, HMDT said.
“I fear for what will happen this year,” UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis wrote in an editorial published over the weekend in The Sunday Times.
Mirvis acknowledged the challenges educators face in organizing such an event in light of its “polarising impact,” with parents calling Holocaust education a form of propaganda or insisting it also highlight the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
“Many teachers facing this dilemma have opted to follow the path of least resistance: not to mark Holocaust Memorial Day at all,” he wrote.
However, a failure to teach about the Holocaust risks “corroding the moral foundations of a society,” he explained.
“The Shoah was not unavoidable,” Mirvis wrote. “It was the end of a road paved with normalised scapegoating, constant disinformation, violent autocracy and a culture of the most extreme hatred. It began not in concentration camps but in classrooms, newspapers and public squares where people learnt to look away.”
“Holocaust education is thus not Jewish self-interest. It is civic education in its most urgent form,” he continued. “It is indeed not an endorsement of any government, viewpoint or conflict. It is indeed
Number of UK Schools marking Holocaust Remembrance Day Drops Nearly 60% As October 7
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The number of UK schools officially marking Holocaust Remembrance Day has fallen by almost 60% since the October 7th attacks in Israel, raising concerns about the impact of heightened geopolitical tensions on Holocaust education. According to data released on january 21, 2026, only 138 schools registered events with the Holocaust memorial Day Trust (HMDT) for 2024, compared to 339 in 2023.
decline in Participation
The HMDT reported a significant decrease in registrations from schools across England,scotland,and Wales. In 2023, 258 schools in England participated, while in 2024, that number dropped to 94.Scotland saw a decline from 51 to 26 schools, and Wales from 30 to 18.Northern Ireland remained relatively stable, with 10 schools participating in both years.
Concerns and Explanations
Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the HMDT, expressed her dismay at the decline. she stated, ”We are deeply concerned by this significant drop in participation. Holocaust Remembrance Day is a vital opportunity for education and reflection, and it’s crucial that schools continue to engage with this crucial history.”
The HMDT believes the decrease is linked to anxieties among school leaders about potential disruption or controversy related to discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict alongside Holocaust education. Some schools reportedly feared protests or accusations of bias. A HMDT spokesperson noted that some teachers expressed feeling “unable to navigate the complexities” of the current climate.
HMDT Efforts
The HMDT provides free resources and support to schools wishing to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.These resources include lesson plans, survivor testimony videos, and guidance on facilitating sensitive discussions. The organization is actively working to reassure schools and encourage participation in future years. Thay are also offering additional training for teachers on how to address potentially challenging questions and concerns.
Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed annually on January 27th, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945.