Students from Launceston College have returned from a deeply moving and educational one day visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, as part of the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project.

The visit began with an early departure from Exeter, with the group joining students from across the South West on a specially chartered flight organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Upon arrival in Poland, students were taken to Auschwitz, the first concentration camp, where they were given a guided tour detailing the history of the Jewish community before the Second World War and the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.

The group then travelled to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, recognised by its haunting rail tracks and vast grounds. Students walked through the remains of prisoner barracks, gaining a chilling understanding of the conditions endured by millions. The day concluded with a memorial ceremony at dusk, where participants from a number of countries gathered in silence to hear readings of poems and survivor stories, and to light candles in remembrance.

The Lessons from Auschwitz programme also includes seminars before and after the visit, ensuring students are fully prepared and have space to reflect. This initiative encourages young people to become ambassadors for remembrance and to share what they’ve learned with their communities.

The college’s headteacher has called the trip a ‘powerful reminder of the importance of tolerance, empathy, and education’.

Mr Matthew Thompson, principal at Launceston College said: “This visit was a profound opportunity for our students to witness the reality of the Holocaust first hand. It offered a powerful reminder of the importance of tolerance, empathy, and education. I know this experience will stay with them for life and help shape their understanding of history and humanity.”