Topical Talk

Lifting the lid on a Topical Talk lesson

A supporting resource for your classroom

Collage of pages from the “Lifting the lid on Topical Talk lessons” teaching resource showing the cover and lesson explainer

Published 13 January 2026

About this

Each Topical Talk lesson takes two weeks to plan. Our expert teachers work behind the scenes to ensure that we tackle tough issues head-on, in a way that makes for great classroom discussion. These discussions impart knowledge in a way that is engaging and inspiring, are inclusive for all learners and gets students to think critically.

In this resource, we pick apart one of our lessons to show you the thinking that’s gone into it - from our choice of activities and what they achieve, to the classroom set-up, skills and more.

How to use this resource

  • Read the theory and have a go at teaching the lesson yourself. See if what you read matches what you experience in the classroom
  • Use the ideas! Take an example of how to set up a discussion or how to break down a topic and use it another lesson you teach
  • Share it with your senior leaders. If you’ve ever wanted to explain how and why your Topical Talk teaching works, use this document to support your case.
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