Thatcham sixth form pupils to ask 'hard hitting' questions at Kennet School faith forum
Sixth form students in Thatcham will be asking the tough questions at Kennet School’s faith forum in January.
The Year 12 pupils will come together with a panel of five representatives from different faiths to discuss, reflect on and question their different belief systems.
The event is a part of a wider extension to academic studies at the school to prepare the young people for adult life.
The Preparation for Adult Life programme gives them the opportunity to learn about the wider world and life after school.
Headteacher Gemma Piper said that the young adults are “aware of what pressures are coming their way” in later life and are proactive in co-creating these learning opportunities with the school.
She said: “We adapt it every year we get feedback. A couple of years ago they asked about mortgages.
“They came back and said when it happens, we need to know where to start,” to which economic teachers have now gone through the process.
A Question Time-style panel is another activity where MPs visit and discuss topics with the children, giving them the space and opportunity to discuss their local area and understand wider politics.
The faith forum works in a similar way and sees representatives for the Buddhist, humanist, Muslim and Christian faiths answer “hard-hitting” questions from the pupils.
She said that other schools may avoid these sorts of discussions, but for Kennet School it’s regarded as “really important”.
“At the event, the pupils are respectful and the questions are hard hitting," she said. "For us, it gets feisty.
“The panel members know that’s the case.”
The pupils prepare for the forum prior to the actual event, which offers “individual reflection” before they go into the discussion.
“They do prep work in advance to reflect on themselves, where they stand what they believe in," said Mrs Piper.
"We encourage reflection, it’s not just an opportunity for questions, it’s to reflect on yourself.”
The faith forum is not something new to Kennet School, it has been held in the past
Mrs Piper noted that last year's was held differently due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions, and the year prior was the first one that was held.
She said: “We are really looking forward to hosting it in person.”
The panel, which comprises five members, will be chaired by the Rev David Taylor and will host the Rev Gareth Milliken representing Reading Buddhist Priory, Jamie Howell representing Berkshire Humanists, Kareem Sharawi representing Newbury Muslims and Simon Edwards representing the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.
