Debating has a long tradition in St Columba’s. It offers a plethora of benefits for our young people. Firstly, it sharpens their critical thinking skills as they learn to analyse complex issues from multiple angles and construct persuasive arguments. It also hones their communication abilities, teaching them to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively, an essential skill for success in any field. Furthermore, debating encourages research and broadens their knowledge base as they delve into diverse topics. Beyond academics, it fosters self-confidence and poise, as students must speak in front of an audience. Moreover, it promotes teamwork and respectful discourse, cultivating an environment where differing opinions are valued.
Head Prefect, Sophie H, and Depute, Callum H, have been stalwarts of the School’s debating club since they first arrived in Senior School and have gone from strength to strength over the past six years. Indeed, Sophie was first selected to represent Team Scotland at the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) when she was just 14 years old.
During the summer holidays, Sophie and Callum travelled to Hanoi in Vietnam as part of the 5-strong Team Scotland to take part in the first in-person WSDC since the pandemic. This two-week tournament sees teams from around the world go head-to-head to debate a wide range of social, moral and political issues in the hope of being crowned the best in the world.
Back in Scotland, we were following along on the team’s Twitter page as they progressed through the competition, making it all the way to the semi-finals before being knocked out by Canada. Sophie also ranked as the 5th best speaker of the tournament – an incredible achievement.
Here, they tell us where their love of debating came from and what it was like to represent their country.
How long have you been debating?
Sophie: I started in Transitus Debating Club as soon as I joined the school! I had never debated before being at St Columba’s. After a year in Transitus debating, I attended my first competition in SI and haven’t stopped since.
Callum: I attended Transitus Debating when I joined the school, but never really took it seriously or realised it was much more than just a club. From SI onwards, I still attended the club but was not involved in many competitions, probably two in total. My competitive debating experience really started during lockdown in SII when I started to attend more competitions.
What made you want to try debating?
S: I was always talkative and outgoing and have always got a thrill from speaking to a crowd. I was also prone to arguing back and forth with my parents and with teachers, and they suggested that this energy would be better channelled into debating! I’ve always been very interested in politics and current affairs – debating seemed like an excellent way to explore these issues beyond the school curriculum.
C: I’d never heard of debating before I joined the school and it was first suggested to me by the old Rector, Mr Girdwood, during a meeting before I was accepted to the school. Then once I joined the school, we were told about Transitus debating and I was interested to find out what it was like so I joined.
What process do you have to go through to be selected for Team Scotland?
S: It has changed slightly over the years that I have been involved. The current process is to submit a written application, consisting of some questions about debating experience and why you want to be on Team Scotland as well as a short speech so coaches can assess your skills. After this, around 24 successful debaters join a training squad while a further 30 or so are streamed into a development squad. The training squad trains together for around 6 weeks, then participates in a trials weekend at the end of which the final 5 of team Scotland are selected.
C: Don’t have much else to add to what Sophie has said! Apart from maybe the fact that there is a group of debaters who are selected for the training squad of 24 but aren’t selected for the team that form the ‘A teams’, where they train regularly and compete in some international competitions. I mainly wanted to highlight this because this was crucial for my development as a debater, as I attended for two years before I was selected for team Scotland and is a key part of training up future team members.
Sophie – you have represented Team Scotland before. How does it compare getting to experience the World Schools Debating Championships in person, as opposed to virtually?
They are truly incomparable. The adrenaline and excitement of speaking in person, especially in the later rounds, is so much greater than we ever experienced online. It gives you a chance to display stylistic skills that weren’t so valuable online. Add on to this the socialising aspect, the experience of an entirely new culture and the in-person ceremonies and events and it is a vastly different experience than we had online.
How did it feel to make it to the semi-finals?
S: We didn’t really have words for it at the time and I don’t think I have words for it now. It was so unexpected and so exciting; we were delighted to get to speak in a different venue in front of a big crowd. To take Scotland to their best result in over a decade was a genuine honour, and I feel so proud of the entire team and coaches for the work that they put in to get there.
C: It was an absolute shock! We had gone into the competition, and even the night before the first out rounds, with the expectation that we would not progress that far and having made it to any stage was a success for us. So, when we won the Octo finals, then the quarter finals, the surprise and joy just kept building!
What was your highlight of the competition?
S: This is such a difficult question as the competition was full of highlights. Our quarter final win against India was certainly a moment I’ll never forget, as well as the closing ceremony dinner in Hanoi city. We were all so elated and proud, and it was amazing to have a chance to celebrate with the rest of the team, the coaches and the new friends that we had made.
C: To be honest the entire competition was great! Definitely a special moment was winning the quarter final against India, who had beaten us in Round 8 and were the only unbeaten team up until that point. So the utter happiness and excitement we felt was amazing! Probably a non-debating related key moment was the opening ceremony. Both that and the closing ceremony were amazing in visuals, entertainment etc., but there was something special about the opening ceremony as it was the first time we were all officially in person during a formal event which felt amazing - especially considering the difficulties with the typhoon.
What was it like being in Hanoi? How long were you there? Did you get an opportunity to explore?
S: We were in Hanoi for around 12 days, with over a day’s travel on the way there! We had one rest day in the middle of the competition, which we used to get in our tourist activities. We visited the Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and museum – many of the popular spots in Hanoi. It wasn’t much time, but it was incredible to feel so submerged into a totally different culture.
C: It was amazing to be in Hanoi, personally that’s the furthest I've ever travelled, and it was just great! Even though we only had one rest day in the middle of the competition we were able to travel to a few different venues for the out rounds such as another local school and a hotel in the centre of Hanoi. Even the venue itself was beautiful to walk through every morning!
Where are the next world championships being held? Are you going to try out for Team Scotland again this year?
S: Next year, WSDC is in Belgrade in Serbia, so much shorter travel for us! I will certainly try out for Team Scotland again, and I’m already in the process of writing my application! I hope that we can bring Scotland all the way to the final and maybe even lift the trophy.
C: I’m looking forward to re-trialling and hoping to expand upon our success!
Since returning from Hanoi, Sophie and Callum have also been victorious in the inaugural Ayrshire Debating Cup, placing first and second on the tab.
We wish them both the very best for the Team Scotland selections as well as for the West Coast Worlds competition being hosted in the Girdwood Building at the end of next month.