Here at Sheffield Girls’, curiosity, challenge and debate are woven into everyday school life. From the earliest years, our girls are encouraged to ask thoughtful questions, consider different perspectives and develop the confidence to contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
On Friday evening, those values took centre stage as we welcomed BBC Radio 4’s flagship current affairs programme Any Questions? to our historic Trinity building.
Broadcast live to an audience of more than 1.5 million listeners, the programme brought together leading voices from politics and economics to debate the issues dominating the national agenda during an extraordinary week in British and international affairs.
The panel, chaired by BBC presenter Alex Forsyth, featured Sarah Champion MP, Chair of the Commons International Development Committee, Dr Caroline Johnson MP, Shadow Health Minister, economist Gerard Lyons and Danny Sriskandarajah from the New Economics Foundation. Together, they responded to questions submitted by audience members from across South Yorkshire, discussing many of the political and social issues shaping the country today.
For us, however, the significance of the evening extended far beyond hosting a nationally recognised BBC programme.
Education is about equipping young people not simply with knowledge, but with the confidence to think critically, question respectfully and engage thoughtfully with the complex issues they will encounter throughout their lives. Whether discussing literature in the classroom, debating ethical questions in philosophy, exploring scientific discoveries or considering current affairs, our pupils are encouraged to develop independent minds and informed opinions.
Our Head, Alex Wilson, reflected on the evening:
“It was a privilege to welcome BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions? to Sheffield Girls’. At a time when public discourse matters more than ever, it was inspiring to see our school become a place where national conversations could take place with respect, openness and intellectual curiosity.
“One of the greatest responsibilities of education is not to tell young people what to think, but to equip them with the confidence and critical thinking skills to think for themselves. Debate, challenge and curiosity are central to life at Sheffield Girls’, and hosting a programme of this significance perfectly reflected the values we seek to instil in every pupil.”
The evening was also a powerful opportunity for pupils attending the event to see women contributing confidently and authoritatively to public discussion on some of the most important issues facing the country.
As an all-girls school, we want every pupil to grow up knowing that her voice matters. Seeing women challenge ideas, scrutinise policy and shape national debate reinforces something we work hard to nurture every day: the confidence to participate, to lead and to make a meaningful contribution to society.
The event also offered the invaluable opportunity for our aspiring Sixth Form journalists to tackle an incredible assignment: interviewing Alex Forsyth, host of Any Questions?, and delving into her experience breaking barriers as a female journalist.
Reflecting on her own path to success, Forsyth spoke warmly about how her single-sex education at an all-girls school in Portsmouth, combined with growing up in an all-female household, profoundly shaped her development. She noted that her school environment fostered “a real sense of kind of community… and a bit of empowerment as well,” explaining that it crucially taught her “that you could do what it is that you wanted to do… you could reach the top of your potential, whatever your potential might be”. We are proud to see this sense of optimism lived out everyday in our school corridors, where pupils are empowered to aim high and learn without limits.
To our pupils, Forsyth offered some sage advice following a 16 year-long career in journalism. She emphasised that success relies on a mix of perseverance, resilience and a healthy dose of curiosity. She encouraged our girls to build strong networks and embrace creativity, reminding them that the core of journalism is always about trying to get to the truth.
Hosting Any Questions? also reflects Sheffield’s growing reputation as a city that values thoughtful discussion and civic engagement. From the Festival of Debate to DocFest, Sheffield continues to provide a stage for important national conversations, and we were proud to play our part in that tradition.
For our pupils, staff and wider community, the evening served as a reminder that debate is about more than politics. It is about listening carefully, challenging respectfully and approaching complex issues with curiosity, integrity and an open mind.
Those are qualities we strive to develop every day at Sheffield Girls’, and we were delighted to see them reflected so clearly on a national stage.
