Head of External Relations and Schools Partnerships
Nicola Wetherall, MBE
Nicola Wetherall is a Principal Teaching fellow and offers strategic leadership of the Centre’s public facing work. She leads develops and implements plans to build relationships and partnerships that showcase and champion the work of the Centre and its Beacon Schools to key stakeholders, potential funders and influential figures in policy and educational settings.
Nic continues to work at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy (RWBA) in Wiltshire whilst working within the teaching team at the Centre. She combines her academic background in Holocaust Education and Genocide Studies with her classroom practice, seeking a fusion of academic rigour and holistic learning experience. She uses this continued ‘chalk-face’ experience when advising on the Centre’s messaging to schools and policy makers. She currently sits on its management board, playing a strategic role helping to deliver the UCL Beacon School Programme in Holocaust Education and leads the Centre’s schools partnership work.
Her work in Holocaust education has been longstanding. Nic has taught for 15 years in state secondary schools. At RWBA she has established a unique whole school, holistic programme of Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education (HGP) that has proven hugely successful and garnered national and international recognition. This has led to the innovation and development of a thriving RWBA family and community outreach programme which promotes community cohesion, literacy and active global citizenship. The programme hosts annual events and conferences and advocates innovative teaching and learning in this area whilst providing opportunities for students to engage with survivors and respected experts in the field of Holocaust Studies and genocide prevention.
Nic’s commitment to this RWBA programme and her Lead Practitioner role means that despite having joined the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education teaching team in 2013 she remains on staff at RWBA on a part-time basis, and continues to champion and develop RWBA's UCL Beacon School ‘Quality Mark’ status and its 60+ associated network schools.
Her expertise is sought by national and international organisations in Holocaust and genocide education. She works closely with the United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Foundation, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, along with survivors, and enjoys close partnerships with Most Mira, Ishami Foundation, Remembering Srebrenica and many other organisations in the field. She is currently on the board of advisers of Genocide Watch.
Nic was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours 2017, recognising her services to Holocaust Education, Genocide Prevention and Human Rights Awareness.
Nic’s 'on the ground' understanding of current educational challenges and opportunities means she is well placed in her UCL role to liaise with strategic partners, teachers and senior leaders as she able to both theorise and know what practically works in a demanding school environment.
Her role as Head of External Relations and School Partnerships involves leading outreach to a range of partners, raising awareness of the professional development programmes offered by the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education and exploring innovative ways in which the Centre can support and engage with colleagues embarking upon teaching this important, challenging and complex history in the classroom.
As a Religious Education specialist Nic is keen to explore theological and other responses to the Holocaust and its many ethical and philosophical questions. She is especially interested in exploring ways of connecting study of the Holocaust to modern day and current genocides and acts of mass violence.
