Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

---

Filmed by WORLDwrite volunteers at the Battle of Ideas Festival in October 2022 an engaging panel discuss what's going on in the classroom and what should be done about it.

Can contested political ideas be dealt with in classrooms via viewpoint diversity or should schools steer clear of tackling political controversies altogether? Are pupils to be viewed as a captive audience, too young to challenge what they’re hearing, or young people who need to be engaged with contemporary social trends?

The speakers are:

Dr Deborah Hayton
Teacher; trade unionist; contributor, Spectator, Unherd and other publications

Dr Sean Lang
Senior lecturer in History, Anglia Ruskin University; author, First World War for Dummies and What History Do We Need?; fellow, Historical Association

Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert
Director, Don't Divide Us; author, What should schools teach? Disciplines, subjects and the pursuit of truth

Emma Webb
Director, Common Sense Society, UK branch; host, Newspeak; commentator; writer; co-founder, Save Our Statues

The Chair is

Gareth Sturdy
Physics advisor, Up Learn; education and science writer