Claire Fox, the Director of the Institute of Ideas, visited Exeter College recently to speak to a packed audience of around a hundred students and other guests.

This high profile speaker spoke about the importance of free speech in a lecture held in the college’s new lecture theatre.

The Institute of Ideas runs the Debating Matters Competition, a national debating competition held for sixth form students. The contest is known for being one of the toughest debating competitions in the country. Last year, a team of Exeter College students impressed at the coveted national finals in London.

Speaking during her visit, Claire Fox, who is the Director of the Institute of Ideas, said: “The college is to be congratulated for creating an atmosphere of intellectual enquiry and robust exchange of views, proving that debating really matters.”

Our students beat off tough competition to win their place at the national finals of Debating Matters in 2016 after being crowned winners of the West and South Wales region.

English Literature Coordinator Martin Owen, who organised the visit and talk by Claire Fox at the college, said: “We are delighted to have Claire visit the college and talk to our students on this very serious issue.

“It is really important to engage students with challenging ideas – and events like this help to do so. Many thanks to Claire and the Institute of Ideas for supporting us with this and also helping to establish an Exeter Salon, hosted at the college in the near future.”