Earlier this month, Northampton High School proudly hosted BBC Question Time in our fantastic school hall. The panel featured MP Sir Chris Bryant, former Conservative Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, MP Calum Miller, Baroness Hazarika, and journalist Liam Halligan.
This isn’t the first time we’ve hosted BBC Question Time, having previously welcomed illustrious BBC Presenter, Fiona Bruce in 2019. Hosting events like this are incredible opportunities for our pupils, who benefit hugely from meeting and speaking with experts across industries.
Behind the scenes
Setting up an event of this size and significance requires lots of careful planning. Headteacher Dr May Lee joined BBC Radio Northampton host Annabel Amos for a candid conversation about what happens behind the scenes. Listen to the clip here.
The panellists were welcomed by a team of students, who had the time to speak with them about their experience, interests – and of course, ask them their own questions too.
“The excitement and buzz are still palpable here at Northampton High! Our Sixth Formers, who had the opportunity to meet the panellists before the programme began, will never forget the experience. They engaged in discussions about the state of the nation and pressing issues that concern young people today, such as knife crime and grooming gangs.
For both staff and students, it was fascinating to see and experience the setup required for a live broadcast. The sheer number of cables, equipment and technical kit was astonishing, and the transformation of our School Hall was incredible. We all learned so much about what it takes to bring a live broadcast to life.”
A proportion of the audience was made up of students’ families, with many staff watching from the gallery. You can catch up with the episode on BBC iPlayer.