In our work with and in the Grenfell community, we have striven to centre community voices, to listen carefully to people’s experiences, and to translate that into potential teaching and learning approaches for the classroom.
In hearing these views, we came to understand how important a ‘residents up’ approach is to devising Grenfell content which can be taught in the classroom. We particularly heard emphasis on “listening to every single voice” and were encouraged by the Grenfell Education Meeting participants to engage more widely and deeply with the diverse views within the community.
Paying particular attention to young people’s and children’s voices became central to our understanding of an effective approach to teaching about Grenfell. A young person shared how vital it is to “give people a voice and listen,” and another shared how “it is good to give us a platform.”
Who it is for
The CPD is designed for educators working in various contexts who wish to develop confident, sensitive, and well-informed approaches to teaching about tragedies such as the Grenfell disaster. It is relevant from primary through to further education, across a wide range of subjects, and for use both in schools and in wider educational settings.
The programme provides example lessons, activities and clear links to the national curriculum, all of which can be adapted to suit different age groups, subjects, and local contexts.
How to use
Each week consists of approximately two hours of learning, totalling six hours across the three-week programme. Each week is organised into two complementary parts.
- Deepening understanding of the Grenfell disaster itself—covering the community and conditions before the fire, the events of the night, and the social, political, and emotional aftermath.
- How to teach about Grenfell in age-appropriate, sensitive, and justice-oriented ways.
While the programme is designed as a coherent three-week learning journey, participants are welcome to engage with it selectively, choosing the sessions that best match their time, interests, or teaching needs. This flexible structure enables educators to access meaningful professional learning at a pace and depth that works for them.