Sixth Form Debating Success

Jackson P, Flo M and Tilly R have achieved an outstanding success in reaching the South West finals of the English Speaking Union Schools’ Debating Competition.

The team travelled to Badminton School in Bristol to debate the challenging motion: “This House would tie government university funding to graduate employment outcomes.” Competing against strong opposition, they delivered an exceptional performance, winning their debate convincingly.

Judges praised the team for the depth of their research, particularly highlighting the strength and clarity of the mechanism they proposed. They also commended the students’ calm, measured and confident delivery, as well as their ability to respond thoughtfully and adapt effectively to some unorthodox tactics from their opponents.

Over the course of the three rounds, the team demonstrated remarkable progress. Judges noted how successfully they had taken on board feedback from each stage of the competition, culminating in a highly polished and accomplished final performance.

As a result of their efforts, Jackson, Flo and Tilly have been recognised as ESU alumni and have been invited to train as judges for future competitions; an impressive testament to their skill and commitment.

Although only one of the six teams could progress to the national finals, and Truro narrowly missed out, this achievement marks an exciting milestone. All three students are determined that this is just the beginning of their debating journeys.