Students take part in Question Time-style debate at St Albans Cathedral (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Question Time-style event for students at St Albans Cathedral

11:15am Friday 25th November 2011 in News By Zoe Forsey

Sixth-form students from across Hertfordshire took place in an educational debate based on the BBC show Question Time.

More than 600 students debated issues such as tuition fees, teenage pregnancy and the London riots in front of a panel of experts at St Albans Cathedral yesterday.

Tobias Ellwood, Conservative MP for Bournemouth East and parliamentary private secretary to the defence secretary, and Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda and a staunch critic of the Murdoch empire involvement in phone hacking, were on hand to offer their opinions on political issues.

Judge Andrew Bright QC, resident judge St Albans Crown Court and Reverend Dr Giles Fraser, Canon Chancellor at St Pauls Cathedral, were also on the panel to give expert opinions on other issues.

Annette Cranston, education officer at the cathedral, said: “It was a very adult, thoughtful and mature debate between to the students and the guests.

“We had one of the most interesting panels we have had in a long time - they certainly mixed very well with the students.”

“I think it is a really unique event.”

The debate, which celebrated its 10th birthday this year, took place in the nave of the cathedral.

Samira Ahmed, a journalist for Channel 4 News, returned for the third year to chair the event. Pupils from Townsend, Francis Bacon, St Albans High School for Girls and Beaumont were among those who attended.

The event is becoming more popular and each year the cathedral has more schools apply to be involved.

Ms Cranston added: “I think that it is extremely valuable as part of their speaking and listening training.

“It gives the students the opportunity to put forward their points of view and to have people actually listen.