ISA Debating Double Success!

The Independent Schools Association’s annual Debating Competition took place on Saturday 29^th November with our successful teams achieving First Place for KS3 and Second Place for KS4-5. Larry (Year 8) also picked up a Judges’ Award for ‘Most Persuasive Student’; a real achievement against such a competitive field. Marie-Ange Moncuy, ISA National Arts Manager enthused; “A huge congratulations to all your students for their speeches, critical thinking and resilience!”

Senior Assistant Head, Tash Coccia, agreed, saying: “Huge congratulations, another fantastic win for Team LP! First and second place, and an award for Larry too. Absolutely brilliant, and a real testament to how the commitment to oracy within our co-curricular programme is making such a meaningful impact. I’m thrilled!”

The ISA feel that students participating in the competition are exposed to a myriad of positive experiences, explaining: “Research, reasoning, and public speaking skills are a few of the many benefits that come with learning to be a good orator. From planning your argument, even if it’s one you disagree with, to choosing your words with care, debating can prepare you to take on challenging situations.”

David Hammond, Head of Science and Trip Lead commented “It was a touch KS3 final against Kingham School with Kenisha leading the charge on ‘This house would give wages for housework’ and Connie arguing and rebutting the opposition with great vigour. Larry summarised the Leighton Park case with a broadside of rebuttal and attack! Go LP! In the KS4-5 final Will made the opening move, thrusting the argument forward and laterally in true Will style to unsettle the opposing team from Cardiff. Riordan made sweeping diagonal slices at the opposition’s argument with righteous authority on why social media accounts should be anonymous and Alex fought back down clear lines of logic and sideways moves to block the opposing team building his closing trap. Will concluded with an impassioned speech in a move to make a surprise check mate with his charismatic flair and style.

Our KS3 team of three and our KS4-5 team of three, with two reserves, headed to TASIS in Surrey for the event. They had prepared in advance for the opening speeches but the second and third rounds were a surprise! The initial debates were ‘This house regrets the increased prominence of large streaming platforms (eg. Disney+, Apple, Netflix) creating and distributing their own films and TV series’ at KS3 and ‘This house would never televise live trials’ at KS4-5 with following rounds covering whether New Year’s resolutions do more harm than good, whether wages should be introduced for housework, whether there should be upper age limits for public offices and whether all social media accounts should disclose the identity of those behind the account.

The debates followed the extended mace format with each speaker allocated a duration for their speech (five minutes for KS4-5, three minutes for KS3). Everyone has to speak but can be interrupted by the opposition for Points of Information shortly into their presentation. Each speaker must accept a minimum of one Point of Information during their time. Once all three team members have spoken for the proposition and opposition it is time for each team’s concluding speech. The judges’ award points based on criteria such as style, content, strategy and overall content.

The Leighton Park co-curricular programme offers Fryer Debate Club for Years 7 and 8, and Debating Matters, for Years 9-Upper Sixth, where students can hone their skills and practise their oracy in preparation for competitions like this. The teams’ successes build on last week’s win at the Oxford Debating Matters Championship. Congratulations once again to our talented speakers!