The debate – the final one in a series of six held across the UK in 2017/18, proved popular, with students travelling from across the region to attend the event.
The debate series, now in its second year, is free to all state schools and has already seen thousands of young people from across England involved. With studies showing an increasing detachment between young people and the World Wars, the series has been created to increase young people’s engagement with WW1 as a subject.
The event focused on WW1’s lasting legacy as a vehicle for social change. The debate was chaired by BBC Newsnight’s Mark Urban, who was joined by a panel of renowned historians and WW1 experts:
- Professor Richard Grayson – Professor of 20th Century History at Goldsmith’s, University of London, an associate member of the First World War Centenary Committee in Northern Ireland and Chair of the Academic Advisory Group for Digital Projects, Imperial War Museums
- Dr Naomi Paxton – Researcher, writer & performer and regular contributor to BBC Radio Four’s Making History and Woman’s Hour
- Professor Alexander Watson – Professor of History at Goldsmith’s, University of London and prolific author. His latest book ‘Ring of Steel: Germany & Austria-Hungary at War, 1914-18’ won the 2014 Wolfson History Prize, 2015 British Army Military Book of the Year and Sunday Times ‘History Book of the Year’ 2014
- Dr Deborah Thom – Director of Studies for the Faculties of History and Social and Political Sciences at Robinson College, University of Cambridge, where one of her research areas is women’s employment
Students at the event learnt about the impact of war on women, the effect war had on the British Empire, how we remember the fallen and about groups that have sometimes been forgotten in commemorations.
Bella Fowlie, a student in Year 11, at Chesterton Community College, commented: “I’ve never been part of such a big debate before. Hearing so many new and different views and having the chance to debate key issues with world-renowned experts really brought the subject to life. It’s definitely left me wanting to find out more about the war and appreciating the huge sacrifices that were made so that we can live the life we do today.”
Last year 90% of students that attended a debate rated them as ‘good’ with 94% of teachers saying it had helped their students reflect on WW1 from a variety of standpoints. 97% of teachers also said they would recommend the event to colleagues.
Newsnight presenter and Chair of the panel, Mark Urban, said: “It was fantastic to see how involved the students got in tonight’s debate. The energy and fresh perspectives they brought to the evening were inspiring and show just how much they have to contribute to this important on-going debate.”
Rhiannon Evans, Head of History at Chesterton Community College, commented: “It was a real honour for us to host such a unique debate. It was great to see how fired up the students were by debating such big issues. A lot of them have also said how thought provoking they found it to see and touch the uniforms and artillery used by soldiers not much older than themselves. It’s been an event that we’ll always remember.”
The WW1 debates series has already visited schools in Manchester, London, Brighton, Birmingham and Bath with thousands of young people involved in the debates over the course of the year.