Debate Teams secure place in regional finals

At Bridgewater School students are given every opportunity to represent their school in a range of sporting and academic competitions and our debate teams are currently enjoying continued success in two of the country’s prestigious public speaking events. The English Speaking Union’s Debate Mace and Churchill Public Speaking Competition, the largest such contest in England and Wales, challenges students to engage with wide-ranging cross-curricular topics while developing key oracy skills in a friendly, yet competitive environment.

This term, Bridgewater Debate Teams have reached the regional finals of both competitions and we are delighted to celebrate the achievements of these young individuals.

Debating, which encourages teamwork and helps foster confidence in public speaking, also helps students to develop critical thinking and independent research skills, enabling participants to create well-thought out and reasoned arguments, using both research, evidence and rhetorical strategies, whilst simultaneously challenging the validity of another’s argument. Combining a range of cross-curricular links, the practice is beneficial to all subjects, particularly those that include essay writing, and is open to all students in Years 9 and above.