Over the course of the Spring Term, our pupils have gathered in their Houses to compete in Inter-House Debate Contests. The contests took place over three events – Year 9, Year 10, and Year 11 – and have been hosted in the Lecture Theatre by Head of History, Mr Player.
There were plenty of heated and fiery discussions as each House battled it out for the trophy and for House glory. The quality of the debating was extremely high with each House representative rebutting and playing with words in an attempt to put forth their strong argument.
The format of each debate was simple. In each round, pupils had 60 seconds to argue for or against different topics, before moving to an open debate where they could challenge each other, raise further points, and defend themselves. A group of Sixth Form pupils judged the rounds, and they were looking at the clarity of arguments, use of details and facts, and the debaters’ powers of persuasion.
The mains topics were as follows:
- The internet has done more harm than good.
- It is not important to be honest.
For the first topic, arguments against the statement made reference to the ease of access to information which is crucial in education and in the professional world. Others also spoke about how the internet enables easier communication with friends and family from afar. However, those arguing for the statement spoke about social media and its risks and dangers, making reference to big issues such as body image, conformity, mental health. Other points included the how the internet has given rise to false information, conspiracy theories, and cybercrime – all of which come with their own dangers.
The second topic was just as fiercely contested as the first. Those arguing against talked about the importance of honesty for trust and integrity and its importance for cooperation and connection. However, those arguing for the motion argued that a white lie could smooth over difficult situations, avoid conflict, and even maintain relationships.
Well done to everyone who competed in this year’s Inter-House Debate Contest. It is not easy to stand in front of your peers and argue for or against a topic that requires research, preparation, and confidence to convey your point. However, there could only be one winner in each event. In Year 9, congratulations to Skipwith’s Jack Howard and Charlie Newman. In Year 10, congratulations to Sam Swannell and Archie Parmar of Welsh – an extra well done must also be said for winning two years in a row following the pair’s success in the 2024 Year 9 contest. And lastly, in Year 11, well done to Skipwith’s M Perry and Max Jobson.
