Speak Your Mind - Sixth Form Conference

Speak Your Mind, the annual sixth form conference, returns to St Albans Cathedral on Wednesday 11 November, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. It's a debate afternoon inspired by Question Time, where sixth form students get a platform to discuss ethical, political and global questions with high-profile speakers.

The session runs in two parts. The first is a debate around a chosen subject theme, opened by two students who each deliver a two-minute speech to set the stage. The second part opens things up to a wider debate on current affairs, with students able to submit questions for the panel in advance and take the mic with impromptu ones on the day. It's built for students to step up and hold their own against the guest speakers, rather than just listening from the audience.

The setting adds its own weight to the whole thing. St Albans Cathedral, a shrine to Britain's first saint, is described as the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain. It's home to a 211-step tower claimed to be the oldest cathedral tower in the country, and to resident peregrine falcons that nest in the heights. It's a big, echoing space for a debate, and one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city.

It runs from 1:30pm to 3:30pm on Wednesday 11 November at St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, AL1 1BY, and costs £2 per student.