Contestant Care

Year 9 Power of Speech • Game Show • Care

A game show asks people to take a risk in front of an audience. That risk should be voluntary, bounded and dignified. This page sets out how to choose contestants, obtain consent and protect them before, during and after the show.

Consent is a process

Consent is not a single question at the start. It is an ongoing agreement that can be withdrawn. A contestant who says yes in class can change their mind on the day.

Stage	What to explain	What to check
Before	The format, the audience, the questions and the pass rule.	Do they understand what they are agreeing to?
At the start	They can pass or stop at any time.	Do they know the signal?
During	They can change their mind.	Are they comfortable?
After	They can ask not to be recorded or named.	Do they want to be included in the recap?

Choosing contestants

Method	Fairness	Risk
Volunteers	Clear consent.	Only confident students volunteer.
Random draw	Equal chance.	A student may not want to play.
Team nomination	Collaborative.	Pressure to accept.
Rotation	Everyone gets a turn over time.	Some students still prefer not to.
Teacher selection	Can balance participation.	Must still ask for consent.

Whatever the method, a student must be able to decline without explanation. Have a reserve list or a support role ready so the show can continue.

The pass rule

A pass lets a contestant skip a question without losing dignity. It should be explained at the start and available throughout.

Model pass rule: “You can pass at any time. A pass scores zero for that question, but you stay in the game. Just say ‘pass' and we will move on.”

This is an original teaching example.

Mistakes

Wrong answers are part of the game. The host's response determines whether the mistake feels safe.

Host response	Effect
“Good try. The answer was ...”	Normalises the mistake.
“That's an interesting answer.”	Keeps dignity.
“Oh dear, that's wrong.”	Can shame the contestant.
“How could you not know?”	Humiliating.
Laughing at the contestant	Damages trust.
Repeating the wrong answer for a laugh	Mocks the person.

Privacy

Game-show questions should not ask for personal information. Avoid questions about family, health, religion, relationships, income or private experience.

Use general knowledge, not personal disclosure.
Do not ask a contestant to reveal a secret.
Do not use a student's life as the content of a joke.
Ask before using a name or photo.
Do not record without consent.
Do not publish a recording without permission.

Access needs

Need	Adjustment
Hearing impairment	Face the contestant; repeat questions; provide a written version.
Vision impairment	Read questions aloud; describe visual rounds; use large print.
Mobility access	Seated contestant option; accessible stage; no physical obstacle.
Speech difference	Allow time; accept alternate answers; do not finish their sentences.
Neurodiversity	Explain the sequence; offer a quiet space; allow a written answer.
Anxiety	Offer a team role or a recorded round.
Chronic illness or fatigue	Shorter rounds; breaks; a substitute.

Stopping the show

A contestant may need to stop. The host should have a clear, non-dramatic way to handle it.

Signal	Host response
“I'd like to stop.”	“Of course. Thank you for playing.” Move to the next segment.
A hand signal agreed in advance	Pause; check in quietly; continue without comment.
Visible distress	Pause the show; ask a support person to step in.
A medical need	Stop; follow the school's first-aid process.
A disclosure	Respond privately; do not use it as content.

After the show

Thank every contestant publicly and equally.
Check in privately with anyone who seemed uncomfortable.
Ask before sharing photos or recordings.
Do not rank contestants by popularity.
Offer a support role to anyone who wants to return.
Review the care plan for next time.

Activity: care audit

Read a draft format and question set.
Identify three moments where a contestant could feel unsafe.
Write a fix for each.
Draft a consent script.
Draft a pass rule.
Test the script on a partner.

A contestant is a guest, not a prop. The show is only fun if everyone can leave with their dignity intact.

Common errors

Assuming volunteers are consenting to anything. Consent is specific.
No pass rule. Contestants feel trapped.
Personal questions. Privacy is breached.
Mocking a wrong answer. Trust is lost.
No plan for stopping. The host improvises badly.
Publishing without permission. It is a privacy breach.

Next, study audience energy to involve the room without pressure. The teamwork and roles page shares the production work.