EYP Debating Team Off to National Finals!

The 2024 European Youth Parliament (EYP) competition was held at The Abbey School on Wednesday 28th February for a second year, and slightly earlier in the term than normal, so with just a couple of weeks to prepare since the ISA Debating Competition, our LP team had to move fast!  With a late pullout due to Covid, Calder (Lower Sixth) stepped up last minute to fill the vacancy and make a Debating Matters Club debut.  Up against teams from across the Thames Valley including the hosts, Oxford International College, and Bloxham School, the standard was going to be high and our team did not regret a moment of the research and preparation that went into getting ready for the day.

By lunchtime, three debates down, the group had found their stride and all of the team had made multiple contributions.  We know that this is something that the judges look for – one or two confident people can’t steal the show and carry the rest through.  Lunchtime feedback from the judges was positive – take your time with delivery, it is “quality over quantity” of what you have to say.  With advice locked in their minds, the afternoon session began, and the standard of the debate got even better, with some proper ‘to and fro’ direct responses pinging across the room – something which makes this debate unique to other competitions. The topics under discussion included the cost of living crisis, the genderisation of urban planning and European fishing policies.

The tension in the room was palpable as the judges retook their seats, but the joy of our LP team was obvious when their committee was announced as winning a place at the Nationals.  This makes it two years in a row for an LP team securing a win through the regional heats to make the national finals.

David Hammond (Head of Science) and Richard Duckett (Assistant Head of Sixth Form and History teacher), who lead the Debating Matters Club, were both very proud of the team who worked incredibly hard in the build up to this competition. Richard commented, ” It was really impressive that four students, three of whom were on their first public competition, took to the podium to address the delegates with more lengthy ‘spotlight’ speeches, rather than contributing from their team seats.  Well done to Calder, Laura, Kimia, and Eli (Lower Sixth) for this! Last year, Will (Upper Sixth) was on the winning team going to the Nationals; this year he chaired two of the debates having taken his participation with EYP up to the organiser/volunteer level.  He also did an amazing job, energising the room and bossing the Chair like a veteran on his debut outing. Everyone played their part to make this day such a success.”