Oxford University Schools Debating Competition

On Tuesday 10th February, four students competed in the Oxford University Schools Debating Competition at Chorlton High School against nearly 150 other students from teams across the north-west.  Hedda Roberts, Tom Bennett, Ben Donaldson and William Moppett debated magnificently with two unprepared motions for which they only had 15 minutes preparation time.  The first was on the subject of legalising performance enhancing drugs and the second focused on whether "news media should report on the ethnicity, religion or culture" of any individual in relation to any criminal cases.  The teams put forward some eloquently and logically reasoned arguments and performed highly in each of their debates.  There was only space for five teams to go through to the final at the Oxford Union and this year we just missed out.  However, the debaters should all be very proud of their efforts, their ability to think quickly, rationally and at times, humorously!