Every Wednesday afternoon during the summer term, Sixth Form students put their sometimes challenging and thought-provoking questions on current affairs to a panel of staff and fellow students.
Called The Big Debate, and based on the BBC’s weekly Question Time programme, the virtual meeting was about encouraging conversation and debate about a range of topics from politics and COVID-19, to social media and current threats to teenage health and welfare.
Mr Richard Curtis, Head of Sixth Form, organised the weekly event as part of the Year 13 ShipShape programme. He said: “A team of four panellists (some resident, some guests) were given five questions to research before articulating their opinions in front of a live audience on the relevant subject matter.
“Following each point of view, members of the audience were given the opportunity to interject and counter argue with their own particular stance on the topic. The Big Debate built to a crescendo on Wednesday 24 July when the big guns (the College's Senior Management Team) were put under the microscope.
“Shiplake College will be continuing to promote a wider understanding of the world we live in covering topics ranging from climate change to international politics with its own version of Question Time throughout the year in the Lecture Theatre.
“Every year group will get the chance to propose question material and also get involved in the debate.”
Many thanks to the following panellists for their time and insight during the debates:
Resident panellists:
- Mrs Justine Parrot
- Mr Duncan Miller
- Mrs Annemarie Higgins
- Mr Yona Diez-Urkidi
Guest panellists:
- Jack Parrott
- Mr Finbarr Bevan
- Jacob Kirby
- Tom Wilkinson
- Cameron Gass
- Freddie Young
- Patrick Kenny
- Mr Andy Loughe
- Mr Harry Geyton
- Mr Grant Woolner
- Mrs Katherine Green
- Mr Paul Jones
- Mr Nick Brown
- Mr Paul McCraw
Thank you also to the sixth formers for a range of interesting and ‘current’ questions which really brought life to the debate:
Week 1
- Do you think Kier Starmer, the new Labour Leader, is the right person to bring Labour back to power?
- If the Premiership does not get completed this season do you think Liverpool should be awarded the title?
- On average, 17,000 people die of flu every year in the UK. Do you think we have over-reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic?
- Should Prince Charles take over the reign when Queen Elizabeth dies or should Prince William be made king and why?
- Do you think that people are less resilient now than in years gone by? And, if so, what can we do about the situation?
Week 2
- With 20% of all teachers being over the age of 50 do you think it is right for the government to expose these key workers to COVID-19 by reopening schools on Monday 1 June?
- In the first of our great debates we touched on the notion of national protectionism With Donald Trump and America being at the forefront of this concept. Do you think that 'globalisation' is now a dead duck?
- Will distance learning become part of the next educational revolution and how could the Government embrace some of the positives from these recent learning experiences?
- Given recent events with many people only making card and mobile phone payments do you think a cashless revolution is on the cards (no pun intended)?
Week 3
- The 14-day quarantine guidelines brought in by the Government last week - will this ruling be good or bad for the UK's recovery?
- Donald Trump got selected on his mantra of "Put America First". Do you think he is going to pull it off for a second term? And what will define his second campaign?
- How will people in the UK holiday this year? And what will define that decision-making process?
- The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions last week brought people out of their homes in their masses with very little respect for the Government's two-metre social distancing guidance. Do you think that this was a wise decision given the prevailing warm weather?
- We are nearly half way through the year and we have heard very little of Brexit. Is it a foregone conclusion that the UK will remain in the EU when the deadline arrives at the end of this year?
Week 4
- Do you think the Government is doing enough to keep a sports-mad country both active and entertained? And what would you like to see improved?
- First we had an increase in import tariffs and recently we have seen bans on airlines. When and how do you think the rift between the US and China will end?
- George Floyd' death at the hands of the police in America has sparked national riots and international condemnation. Why has one black man's death raised so much protest?
- With China taking the opportunity during this pandemic to strengthen its grip on Hong Kong's militants, how can it be possible for that country to remain at the centre of the world's financial sector?
- How are the nations' financial gurus going to deal with their respective country's debt following this outbreak of COVID-19?
Week 5
- What are the three main skills a teenager needs going forward in post-pandemic Britain?
- Should the age that you are allowed to take your pension be lowered, increased or remain the same?
- What would you do to create peace between the Jewish community and the Palestinians?
- Second pandemic wave? Yes or no, and why?
- There is a lot of talk about 'influencers' in social media at present but who has been the biggest influence on your life and why?
Week 6
- George Floyd's death was both abhorrent and unnecessary. The Black Lives Matter campaign that has blossomed in Britain is now pushing for the removal of anything connected to the slave trade (from statues, i.e. Edward Colston, to songs, i.e. Swing Low). Is it right to just strip away hundreds of years of British history in the hope of creating equality? And why?
- We still insist on spending the majority of our early years in school reading and writing. There is a great deal of research linking reading with academic success. However, with computing and voice recognition software what is the future for handwriting?
- What, in your opinion, is the biggest threat to teenage health and welfare in the next decade?
- What three qualities are you looking for whenever you interview prospective staff?
- During this pandemic there has been a great deal of time for reflection (climate change, racism, etc.). From your own reflections, what has become really important to you and what are you going to do about it?
