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Film and Media students gain hands-on experience filming hustings

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On Thursday 20^th June, the One Sixth Form debate team and politics departments were thrilled to host a live hustings event, with parliamentary candidates from across Ipswich, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, and South Suffolk.

In attendance were:

Adria Pittock - Green Party - Ipswich
Dan Pratt Green Party - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
Jack Abbott - Labour Party - Ipswich
James Cartlidge - Conservative - South Suffolk
Tony Gould - Reform UK Party - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
James Sandbach - Liberal Democrats - Ipswich

The event was a live Q+A debate, with questions set by staff and students at the college. Issues covered were;

Transport and the local economy
The environment
Immigration
The housing crisis

Rob Pollard, Head of English, said: "We were really pleased to be able to host this event; we believe it is vital that young people are given the opportunity to connect with local and national politics and take part in debates that will affect their future."

Over 200 people attended the event, which was chaired by Rob Pollard (Head of English), Ruth Parr (Teacher of Politics) and Poppy Haggar (Teacher of Politics and Philosophy) The audience were able to take part in an interactive poll; expressing their voting preferences before and after the debate. It was filmed by students from the BTEC Film and Media courses, providing invaluable first-hand experience of recording a live event. In the run up to election day on 4^th July, the debate team will be running a series of lunchtime debates, and student hustings, to continue the conversation.