On 24 January eight members of the debating society participated in the Oxford Schools competition, where we had the opportunity to engage with other schools and articulate persuasive arguments for and against two motions, with under fifteen minutes preparation.

I found this challenging at first, particularly during the first round where I had to propose a statement I didn’t agree with. However, it forced me to think creatively about how I could convince the judges in a concise way, which is a great skill to have learnt.

Due to the pandemic, the event took place online, but I thought it ran smoothly and was just as lively as in person. I would thoroughly recommend others to take part next time. It was an exciting opportunity! 

Maaria, Lower VI