St Columba’s School has two debating sections - Junior Debating (SI-SII) and Senior Debating (SIII-VI) - which meet on a Wednesday from 3.45 to 4.45
Anyone interested should see Mrs Stevens or Mr Robertson.
Competitions
From October until March the school competes in more than 20 competitions which are run by universities across Scotland, The ESU, The Law Society as well as locally by the Greenock Police (Community Involvement Branch), The Glasgow Bar Association and Rotary Youth Speaks. In addition, we compete in competitions run by Oxford, Cambridge and Durham Universities, The Institute of Ideas and the Canadian Independent Public Schools Speaking League.
Calendar
|
DATE |
EVENT |
ATTENDEES |
TIME |
RESULTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Out and About - Session 2007-2008
First Major UK Win for Debaters
Our debaters were delighted to win their first major UK title at the Northern Juniors Debating Competition. Forty eight teams took part in the event held at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle on Saturday 29th September. Rebecca Meredith and Hannah Reilly and Andrew Beverstock and William Hesselman, debated well to reach the final of the competition along with High School of Dundee and Royal Grammar School Newcastle.
The motions were - THW compel all GB political parties to field 50% women candidates in general elections, THW force everyone to donate their organs after death for transplantation and medical research, THW ban home schooling. The final motion was THW abolish all limits on immigration except those based on national security.
Rebecca and Hannah, who won all three debates and were jointly the best speakers on tab, went on to win the final from the first prop with all seven judges unanimous in their decision. Rebecca was also voted the best speaker in the final.
Speaking after the event, Rebecca commented “This was a tremendous achievement and all our efforts have paid off. Teams from our School have reached many finals before but this the first time that anyone has won a UK debating competition”. Hannah added “As nervous first years we debated as a team at this competition for the first time three years ago to the day. It means a lot to come back here and win in what was actually our last chance to debate together.”
Invitational Debating Competition
On 15th September the School ran its own debating competition for the first time involving many of the best schools’ debaters in Scotland. 12 schools participated in what will become an annual competition. Annabel Goldie MSP, Trish Godman MSP and David Cairns MP very kindly gave up their free time to judge the final of the competition in which Aberdeen Grammar won and High School of Dundee finished in second place. St Columba’s team of SIV pupils debated well to take third place in a field of predominantly SV and SVI pupils.
Debating Update - Session 2006-2007
If you fancy having a debate yourself, the Debatabase website provides invaluable background information on all popular debates.