The 2024–25 academic year is already proving to be another exciting chapter for debating at the School. With membership numbers growing and national competitions underway, pupils are seizing every opportunity to sharpen their skills in critical thinking, public speaking and teamwork.

The Senior Debate Team made a strong start to the year by winning the first round of the English-Speaking Union Debates in November. Competing against four other schools, they argued the challenging motion “This House would introduce a four-day school week.” Judges praised the team’s composure, structure and persuasive delivery, noting the flair with which they handled closing speeches.

Debating has also continued to flourish beyond competitions. The School’s Debate Society now has more than 40 regular members, reflecting the growing enthusiasm among pupils to engage with complex issues and learn to articulate their views with confidence. This increase in participation ensures a vibrant pipeline of talent feeding into competitive teams at both junior and senior levels.

Most recently, in July 2025, twelve members of the Senior Debate Team travelled to Liverpool to represent the School at the National Session of the European Youth Parliament. Over several days of intense debate, they tackled topics such as housing shortages, the gender pay gap, and early cancer detection through photonics. Their contributions were recognised for their eloquence, humour and depth of knowledge, proving that our pupils can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best young debaters in the country.

Debating is about more than trophies and finals. It is giving pupils the chance to learn how to research, listen carefully to opposing viewpoints, and speak with conviction in front of an audience. These are life skills that build confidence, resilience and leadership.

The continued growth of debating has been supported in part by the School Development Fund, which helps provide the resources, coaching and opportunities for our pupils to compete at regional and national level. Regular giving ensures that programmes like debating can thrive, enriching school life far beyond what government funding alone could offer.