BBC Chief Economics Correspondent Hugh Pym visited Malmesbury School to talk on his specialist subject.

The UK Economy – Challenges and Opportunities, was the latest of the school’s house lectures.

Headteacher Tim Gilson said: “It was lovely to see the hall full with a mixture of people from the town and students of the school.

“It was a really interesting presentation. Hugh is an engaging person and very easy to talk to and listen to. It was a lovely evening.

“It was a really nice opportunity for people in the town to come in and meet our students in a stimulating lecture and good question and answer session.”

Malmesbury School has held seven lectures since March last year, covering several subjects.

The first was a talk by the Bishop of Swindon, Rt Rev Dr Lee Rayfield, entitled Porridge, Entropy and the Mystery of the Universe, followed by a speech on the ethics of money in July.

Other lectures have been based on history, mathematics, economics and terrorism.

Mr Gilson said: “The lectures started as part of the school’s 40th anniversary. We thought it was something the school could do to encourage people who have never been to come into the school.

“We’re in a lucky situation that we are in a one-school town, but there are people not of school age we could bring into the school.

“We had more than 120 people for Hugh Pym and have a regular audience of 30-80.

“It’s a nice social thing – a chance to talk and see students and other generations mix.

“It’s quite difficult to get some of the people we want because they’re very busy.”

Philosophytown Festival speaker George MacDonald Ross is giving a talk to sixth form students later in the month.