National Debaters

As our oracy culture becomes embedded in the school community, some of our top debaters are competing on the national stage.

Following three rounds of long-preparation debates over the past four months, Eleanor and Sophia in Year 11 and Olivia in the Lower Sixth made it through to the finals of the English Speaking Union Schools’ Mace – a first for South Hampstead! The trio triumphed as the opposition, arguing against the motion ‘This house would legalise physician-assisted euthanasia’ in what is the oldest and largest debating competition for schools in England and Wales.

The same three students, plus Molly in Year 11, also qualified for the prestigious Oxford Schools’ Finals Day at the Oxford Union this month, an all-day event hosted in a venue that has played host to many illustrious orators, including Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and Bill Clinton. Up against the top teams from each regional round in the UK and abroad, all four had a fantastic day. Congratulations to our top debaters, with a special mention to Molly and Olivia who ranked in the top 20 speakers out of 237 – a significant achievement.

To end the spring term, sixteen debaters headed north for two days of debating at Durham Schools’ – the largest residential schools’ competition in the world – where, out of 84 teams in total, and five rounds of debating, five South Hampstead teams made it to the quarter finals, three to the semis, and two to the Grand Final. Camille and Molly in Year 11 not only ranked first after the first five rounds, but also won the Grand Final and thus the whole competition!

Congratulations are also due to Izzy and Jessica in Year 11, who also made the Grand Final; Eleanor and Chiara in Year 11, who reached the semis; and Olivia in Lower Sixth and Sophia in Year 11, and Talia and Zarin in the Lower Sixth, who made it to the quarters. Special congratulations to Jessica for making the Grand Final and Talia and Zarin making the quarter finals when they are all in their very first year of debating. As individual speakers, Molly ranked first out of 168, Camille ranked second, Chiara and Izzy ranked joint fourth, Eleanor ranked sixth, and Talia and Zarin ranked joint eighth, as well as joint first out of the speakers in the novice category. A fantastic end to another term of great debate.