Year 12 Attend the Controversies and Critical Thinking Conference

We were lucky enough to have the chance to attend the Controversies and Critical Thinking Conference, hosted by the City of London School for Boys. The event hosted students from several schools; City of London Girls School, City of London Academy Highgate Hill, City of London Academy Shoreditch Park, and City of London Freemen’s. 

Working in teams with students from other schools was exciting, as it allowed us to compare different ideas, and help improve our public speaking. It was great to see how confidently the Freemen’s students engaged and got involved, often setting the stage for a thoughtful debate.

We engaged in a variety of sessions that got us to think thoroughly, speak confidently, also listen to others respectfully. My highlight was attending sessions run by students from UCL, where we explored techniques used in debating, and practiced critical thinking. These sessions helped us consider different sides to controversial topics and appreciate other students’ views.

Overall, the conference was an inspiring and engaging experience. We left with new skills for debates, a further appreciation for other perspectives, and knowing the importance and power of knowledge.

Written by Aasha, a Year 12 student at Freemen's.