Very High Debating Standards

Three fourth-formers and one fifth-former took part in the first round International Competition for Young Debaters (ICYD) at the Oxford Union earlier this month, consisting of a gruelling day of impressively high-level debate involving seventy-six teams from schools all over the South-East of England.

Ben Goldstein and Zac Levin (SPS A) won all four of their debates, coming  first in the competition, Jamie Goodier and Jamie Murray-Jones (SPS B) won three out of four and came second. Both teams are through to ICYD Finals Day in May and both participated in the Final Debate in the Oxford Union on Saturday, involving four teams: Wellington, Godolphin and Latymer, SPS A and SPS B.

The debate was won (on a split decision) by Wellington, SPS A being runners-up. Despite this slight disappointment, the four Paulines did spectacularly well throughout the day and set a very high standard for themselves and others to follow. The top speaker of the day was awarded to Ben Goldstein.