BBC Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire is no stranger to a lively debate and that’s what she encountered when she chaired a special panel event at the University of Winchester.
Victoria was at the helm of Education Question Time which attracted an audience of more than 200 to the University’s Stripe Auditorium.
An expert panel was quizzed on topics spanning the spectrum of education from early years to university.
Issues addressed by questions from the audience included: banning mobile phones in schools; funding for Higher Education; the number of children ‘missing’ from full-time education, VAT on fee-paying schools; lack of support for pre-schools: and (an issue which recurred constantly) under-provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The panel consisted of:
Megan Greenwood, Schools and Programme Manager at City of Sanctuary
Bill Lucas, Professor of Learning and Director of the Centre for Real-World Learning at the University of Winchester and co-creator of the Expansive Education Network
Luke Murphy, Labour MP for Basingstoke.
Dame Alison Peacock, CEO of the Chartered College of Teaching
Genyrra Pieterse, a third year Education Studies student
Elizabeth Stone, Headmaster of Winchester College
Dr Viki Veale, Senior Lecturer at the University of St Mary’s and charity campaigner for early years education through Together And Committed To Young Children
Nicola Wells, CEO of the University of Winchester Academy Trust, made up of seven local primary schools.
The event was introduced by the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Sarah Greer who said there had never been a better moment for ‘thoughtful debate’.
Events such as this “…remind us of the importance of really listening to people whose view maybe very different from ours.”
The evening began with drinks in the foyer where guests were entertained by singers from Blue Apple Theatre, artists in resident at the University, accompanied by student Alfie Hickson on keyboards.
Dean of Education and the Arts Cathy Gower explained to the audience that the whole event had been a co-production between University staff and students.
The Dean explained that students had taken on roles in administration, communications with panel members, registration and publicity prior to the event as well as photographing, filming and reporting on the night.
The event was livestreamed and a recording can be seen here.
Photos by Julie Wharton and Adeliia Niemchunova.
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