The Philosophy Man Builds Critical Thinking and Oracy

This week, we were delighted to welcome Jason Buckley, also known as The Philosophy Man, to our school. Jason led a thought-provoking day filled with exciting discussions, challenging questions, and valuable insights into the art of debate and persuasion.

The day included an engaging assembly for Years 3-6, where Jason took us on a journey through Greek mythology, focusing on Odysseus’ adventures. He encouraged pupils to think critically about dilemmas such as how to persuade a giant not to eat them—and why giants shouldn’t farm humans in the same way that humans farm chickens.

In classroom sessions with Years 4-6, Jason explored the story of Odysseus and the Sirens, prompting deep discussions about freedom, control, and the choices we make. Pupils impressed him with their thoughtful arguments and confident speaking skills, showing just how strong our school’s culture of oracy has become.

Debating Club were in for a treat as Jason led us through some arguments posed on his own website, Debate Planet.  Emotions were running-high as we pondered “This house would prefer to be pet-rich rather than gadget-rich”!

To round off the day, Jason led a twilight workshop for teachers, providing valuable feedback on what he had observed and sharing strategies to further develop our debating and reasoning skills in the classroom.

Jason was incredibly impressed with the confidence and skill of our young speakers, and we are proud of how our pupils embraced the challenge of philosophical thinking. A huge thank you to Jason Buckley for an inspiring and enriching visit—we can’t wait to continue developing our debating skills!