On Wednesday 28 January, the St Mary’s Senior Debate Club team travelled to Bishop Wordsworth School in Salisbury to take part in the second round of the English Speaking Union’s Mace debating competition.
Six schools gathered to compete in three debates. St Mary’s team consisted of three speakers – Eve J, Alexandra V (both Lower Sixth) and Morolayo A (UV) – and two support members, who were present to question the members of the other debate teams, Addy A and Ai P (both in Lower Sixth). They took part in a ferociously competitive debate with three students from Ryde School, arguing with passion that modern politics failed to represent the interests of young people. Their arguments were carefully structured, covering meticulously researched examples from UK and international politics. Points of information from their opponents were handled calmly and dismissed with confidence.
Although they were victorious in this contest, only two of the six schools were awarded a place in the third round of the competition, and our team narrowly missed out on this place.
The judges were extremely complementary about the team’s performance, highlighting the quality of their rhetorical skills and presentation, yet it was not to be their year this year. Well done to Portsmouth Grammar School and St Swithun’s School, that move to the next round.
Our team had a great time and felt privileged to be part of debates with such worthy opponents. They will use this experience to hone their skills for further debates in the future. WE are all very proud of their efforts, as they were excellent ambassadors for the school.
Mr Adrian Stoten
Teacher of History and Politics
