At Alsop High School, Topical Talk is a key element of our Personal Development curriculum and takes place during form time. It provides students with regular, structured opportunities to engage in in-depth discussions about current affairs, helping them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to thrive in the modern world.

Through Topical Talk, students build essential thinking, communication and oracy skills, learning how to discuss, debate and reflect on topical issues in a respectful and informed way. These discussions support students in becoming thoughtful, engaged citizens who are able to make sense of the world around them and contribute positively to society.

A core focus of Topical Talk is the development of news and media literacy. Media literacy is the ability to critically analyse information presented in the media and evaluate its accuracy and credibility. Topical Talk supports this through:

  • Technical skills, including identifying misinformation and understanding how news is produced
  • Critical thinking, which is developed and tracked across all discussions
  • Real-world application, using current affairs to apply these skills in complex, authentic contexts

The content of Topical Talk is carefully mapped to ensure it is topical, relevant and appropriate for students, while also being broad and global in scope. Discussions explore local, national and international issues and consider perspectives across different ethnic, cultural and socio-economic communities, helping students to deepen their understanding of the wider world.

Our Topical Talk programme is researched and resourced through our partnership with The Economist Education Foundation, ensuring high-quality, reliable materials that support meaningful discussion and lasting impact on students’ personal development.