Thought For The Day – Friday 17^th October 2025

Last evening, on the 16^th October 2025,  “Question Time” was broadcast live on the B.B.C. from the School Hall: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002kwbz/question-time-16102025

The world came to T.B.S.H.S., and T.B.S.H.S. came to the world.

From the very beginning, including with the programme warm-up, a wonderful ambience was generated by programme-makers and Presenter Fiona Bruce.

For a significant amount of time before the broadcast, a team and community were created both amongst guests and audience members in the School Hall. This was quite a skill, to put people at their ease when surrounded by cameras and microphones.

And then, all of a sudden, and just like that, the broadcast began.

Game face on game night.  Lights, camera, action.  “And it’s  (as) live”.

Very important questions discussed on the programme last evening focussed on the following:  the economy and taxation;  artificial Intelligence and online safety;  building, housing, and public services.

The debate and discussion between the panellists was eloquent, engaging, passionate, respectful, thoughtful, truthful, and driven by values.

It was conducted in an atmosphere of civility and politeness, even though there were disagreements.   The panel were a model of such important democratic discussion.

From the audience, there were fine contributions, including very significant and eloquent contributions from students of T.B.S.H.S., and Mr. Fordham, outgoing Chair of Governors.

Fiona Bruce was, as ever, a judicious, rigorous, quick-thinking, and good-humoured chair, combining empowerment of, and listening to, members of the audience, and panellists, with asking further probing questions for further clarification and meaning.  All was conducted in a timely manner.   A delicate dialogic balance was expertly delivered and managed.

There were great similarities between “Question Time” and lessons at a school Fiona Bruce described in the programme as “beautiful”.

The evening was a very special and ground-breaking moment for T.B.S.H.S. and indeed the town and local area.

Thank you to:  Mr. Reeve;  Ms. Engel; Mrs. Hughes;  Mr . Gunn; Mr. Harvey;  Mrs. Miles; the Senior Leadership Team;  Mr. O’Sullivan;  Mrs. Jonas; the caretaking, catering, and cleaning teams; and student car parkers.

Thank you for their continued outstanding work to:  Mr. Conquest, Head of Politics;  Dr. Coke-Woods; and the Politics students.

This was an epic evening for Politics in the School, as it was an epic evening for the School generally.

It was a memorable night made possible by our outstanding facilities.

Such programmes, like anything,  involve so many behind the scenes.  The “Head of Production” of “Question Time”, for example, who has worked on this local, national and international programme for twenty-eight years, spoke highly of the new school, like all our guests and visitors.   We are very mindful of the many hours it took to, for example, turn the School Hall into a television studio, and back to a School Hall again.

We also remember the “Any Questions?” team, from “B.B.C. Radio 4”, a national institution, programme and broadcaster in its own right, who visited us on the 7th February 2025, and who very positively helped our hosting last evening, evidenced by the very kind, very diligent and very professional security staff who were, once again, on duty.

Each forward step we take is always based on the roots, and opportunities,  of the last, as we always acknowledge our footnotes and references.

And with all these programmes, we further reflect that their true gift is they make every week a special moment for their hosts.

For The Bishop’s Stortford High School,  last night was truly historic and magical.

But the “Question Time” team,  just like the “Any Questions?” team, will travel around the country each week spreading their magic to another neighbourhood and place.

They will make each community feel special, even though it is just one of many for them.  Their routine is another place’s is exception. They work so very hard to do this.  Every week.  As all people do locally, nationally, and globally in their respective jobs and lives.

These programmes bring politics to the people.  And the people to the politics.

With “Question Time”, what was special to us last night, will be equally special to Swindon next week, and to Bradford, Sunderland, London, Loughborough, Watford, Dover and Paisely, in the coming weeks.

And many more homes, communities, and neighbourhoods in the future.

We were blessed last night to be part of this respectful story and conversation.

And, as so often in life, the words “thank you” so often convey so much more.