SERC Student Cerys Louisa Montoya Sharp appears on BBC Top Table with Stephen Nolan

On 21st November, SERC Level 3 90 Credit Diploma Public Services student, Cerys Louisa Montoya Sharp appeared on The Top Table with Stephen Nolan as a member of the panel. This was aired on BBC 1 NI at 10.45pm. She participated in an hour long recording of a heated political debate on Brexit in front of a live studio audience with guests including Jim Wells, Mike Nesbitt, Alastair Campbell, Bill Wolsey and others. Cerys’ class and tutor were in the audience for the recording, providing support.

The Top Table is a current affairs programme which puts young people at the centre of political debate. The application and selection process for a prestigious seat on the panel involved a written test, a video application and a trial debate with other applicants at the production company offices. 

SERC Lecturer in Public Services, Irwin Pryce said, “The reward of seeing Cerys with a look of accomplishment after the show finished recording has been the highlight of my career so far. I am extremely proud of Cerys. She displayed outstanding communication skills and was able to put her points across while keeping her cool.”  

Cerys said, “It has been frustrating having opinions during political debates in class without having someone present who can take these on board and put them into action. It was both invigorating  and empowering to sit face to face with elected representatives and have them listen to my thoughts.”

The host of the “Biggest Show in the Country” himself, Stephen Nolan commented on how impressed he was with Cerys’ ability to hold her own when discussing charged topics.

Cerys has been studying the Government, Policies and the Public Services unit since September as part of her Public Services course and has become fascinated with it. Having never studied politics before, her interest in this subject area has been initiated at SERC and we endeavour to foster this.  

The students have already engaged in a question and answer session with Lady Sylvia Hermon MP and participated in Question Time with Councillors at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council as part of Local Democracy Week. On Monday they will visit NI Assembly for a debate with 3 MLAs and a tour, hopefully the politicians at Stormont are ready for Cerys!

These events have served to encourage the students to become politically active and aware which is vital for entry into a public service role. They are now beginning to follow the news and talk about politics in their own time having been thrust into the centre of it.