THE cut and thrust of heavyweight political debate will be resonating round a South Lakeland hall tonight (Friday) as BBC Radio Four show Any Questions broadcasts live from The Lakes School.
Panel programme chairman Jonathan Dimbleby will be fielding audience questions to politicians and commentators assembled at the Troutbeck Bridge secondary.
Under interrogation will be:
l Chair of the committee on Lords' reform and Labour's Copeland MP Dr Jack Cunningham.
l General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers Doug McAvoy.
l Professor of Law, Anglo-American commentator and chairman of Republicans Abroad Colleen Graffy.
l Shailesh Vara, the Conservative Party vice chairman.
Before the broadcast, The Lakes School itself will also be inviting any questions plus any answers as head teacher Julia Gilchrist officially launches consultation on its bid to become a specialist college.
Since emerging from special measures on April 4, the school has declared its intention to go for a specialism and draw down its attendant funding of a £100,000 lump sum plus an extra £123 per pupil over four years.
However, before it can submit its bid it needs community and business support to determine which subject to go for and to raise the required £50,000 sponsorship. There is already £13,000 in the kitty donated by The Lakes School Trust but there is still a long way to go.
In a short address before the broadcast at 7.15pm in the library, Mrs Gilchrist will be rallying support and inviting comments on the bid.
"With the support of all our partners in the local area we will achieve our target and give the children of this community the best opportunities in education and life," Mrs Gilchrist told The Westmorland Gazette.
Anyone wishing to attend the radio programme can ring The Lakes School for a free ticket on 015394-62470 or turn up on the night where tickets will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. The audience should be seated in the hall by 7.30pm for the start of the broadcast at precisely 20.02.
May 16, 2003 10:00
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