Debating Competition and District Tournament

Date: Thursday 6 March 2008

Activities at both ends of the spectrum and from both ends of the Senior School took place on Wednesday March 5th. The Under 14 Girls Netball squad went to Herne Bay High School for the District Tournament, and a team of four Sixth Form debaters went to Benenden School to take part in the Kent/Sussex regional debating competition.

The Under 14s, who have struggled so far this term to put out a 'strongest' side, performed far better in the tournament than anticipated, and came fourth out of the six schools represented. A win over Archbishop's and a draw with Barton Court were the best results on the night, but Miss Ayoub was pleased with the way that the team has now started to 'gel', and fight much harder against the tougher opposition sides. The Under 15s go to the same venue this afternoon, hopefully equalling, or bettering their junior partners.

A great fight was also put up by the Debating team of Alasdair McMaster, Jamie Tutt, Louise Garrett, and Amanda Wong when they travelled with 'coach' Jon Dagley to Benenden. Over 12 schools were taking part in this annual event hosted by Benenden, and our team won through the first round with a well prepared set of arguments for and against the banning of teams from international competition on the grounds of racial discrimination. They then faced the challenge of preparing, in ten minutes, to deliver in five minutes, a debate on the question of 'political correctness'. Sadly they went out at this stage, leaving the host school, in all probability, to win the final.

This was a fantastic learning experience for our Sixth Formers, coming up for the first time against the 'classy' intellectual opposition they will be facing for university places in the near future. Further opportunities for creating and presenting - vocally - cogent argument will be found in the Summer Term when two intra-School debates are already calendared.