Alastair Burnet Award winner

The Alastair Burnet Award is named after the former editor of The Economist newspaper. This award goes to one outstanding class who've shown an impressive commitment to the Festival and made exceptional contributions throughout the project. For Topical Talk Festival October- December 2022, the Alastair Burnet Award has been awarded to

Shri Natesan Vidyasala MHSS in India!

Shri Natesan Vidyasala MHSS school was set up in a self-described “no man’s land” 28 years ago by the current principal’s father. Since then, it has become a lively and vibrant community hub built on the belief that society can change when good education is provided.

Shri Natesan Vidyasala MHSS contributed fantastically to Festival discussions. Students were particularly attentive when replying to other students. They contributed to the global discussion by sharing their specific community perspective on the Festival topics and how these current affairs affect their lives.

The school receives £1,000 to spend how they choose, so long as it builds on students' achievements in the Festival. For example, they may choose to buy recording equipment to set up a news club in school or give students a budget to take action on one of the topics that most inspired them during the Festival. We’ll catch up with Shri Natesan Vidyasala MHSS in a few months time to find out how they’ve used the prize!