Oxford University Debating Workshop

This week KEHS hosted Oxford University Debating in delivering a workshop for novice debaters ahead of the competitive debating season. Eighteen girls from the Upper Fourth to the Lower Sixth attended the workshop after school on Tuesday. With twenty visiting pupils from other schools, the girls were introduced to the structure of British Parliamentary debating, and discussed how to argue motions about national service and Disney princesses! Chloe and Lauren were commended by Marcus, the mentor from Oxford University, for excellent points raised in discussions about these motions. Later the workshop ran through a pro-am debate where novice KEHS girls were matched with experienced debaters from other schools to debate destruction of evidence that disproves the existence of God. Particular praise must go to Chloe, Lauren, Catherine and Hana who battled nerves to deliver articulate and convincing speeches in the Lecture Theatre. Hana spoke fluently with reference to situation ethics which was noted as contributing to a particularly cogent argument, and Catherine closed the debate passionately and persuasively. The winners of the debate were Chloe’s team!