Solihull School's sixth formers welcome the panel for the Question Time event (from left to right, seated): the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston; the Labour MP for Hall Green, Roger Godsiff; chairman and BBC Radio 4 presenter Ritula Shah, Solihull Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt, and (standing) Conservative Councillor for Silhill Ward Robert Hulland and former Government education adviser Prof Anthony O'Hear     

Parliamentary expenses, Press standards and gay marriage were among the hot topics debated at a successful TV-style Question Time event hosted by Solihull School.

Lower sixth formers from seven Midland schools quizzed a distinguished panel of speakers at the prestigious event chaired by BBC Radio 4 presenter Ritula Shah.

Prof Anthony O'Hear, a former Government education adviser and the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston joined Solihull's Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt, the Labour MP for Hall Green, Roger Godsiff and the Conservative Councillor for Silhill Ward Robert Hulland in facing questions from the audience in Solihull School's Bushell Hall.

Ben Sandford-Smith, Solihull School's new Head of the Sixth Form, who organised the enrichment event, said: “The event proved a terrific success in encouraging sixth formers across the region to take a more active interest in politics. There is no doubt that everyone found the event highly stimulating.”

He added: “There were strong opinions voiced on all sides, particularly when it came to gay marriage where most of the panel found themselves at odds with the students who were almost entirely in favour of allowing it.”    

The packed audience included sixth formers from Edgbaston High School, King Edward's Birmingham, Bablake, King Henry VIII Coventry, Old Swinford Hospital and Tudor Grange Academy as well as from Solihull School.

Question Time was organised on the back of Solihull School's outstanding Europe-wide success in debating which has resulted in the independent co-educational school being ranked the number one team in Central England by the Oxford Union.

The School also won this year's Birmingham University debating championship and has representatives in the European Youth Parliament.