The first knock-out round of the Inter-House Debating Competition

The motion: This House believes that Europe should impose additional sanctions on Russia to increase pressure for peace in Ukraine...

Priory vs Lyon

This morning’s debate between Priory and Lyon was a very close contest in what was the first knock out round of the Inter-House Debating Competition. Priory were proposing the motion that Europe should impose additional sanctions on Russia to increase pressure for peace in Ukraine. Both teams had undertaken extensive research, putting forward well-constructed arguments and providing examples to help support their main points. Both teams used and answered POI’s well, with Priory addressing the questions from the audience in slightly more detail. All involved spoke very well and were engaging and informative. A special mention must go to Isabel for opening the debate in a such a clear and confident way, and to Dylan for delivering the rebuttal without notes. Overall, the Headmaster and I felt that Priory had delivered a more consistent argument, had delivered a strong rebuttal, and had utilised the time available to them well. Priory scored 41 points whilst Lyon scored 38 points.

Dan Cupit - Deputy Head, Academic

New vs Blackford

The standard of debating between New and Blackford was most impressive, evidencing that we have entered the knock-out rounds of the House Debate Competition. Both teams lost key team members late on due to public transport issues, including Blackford’s Captain, but it was credit to the accomplished stand-in performances by Jonty (New House, 3^rd Form) and Archie (Blackford House, L6^th Form) that this was barely evident. The motion on sanctions against Russia made for engaging arguments from both sides, peppered with an array of statistics and quotes to add weight to arguments. There was little to separate the two teams on content and strategy, but in style, New House, spearheaded by experienced debaters, Ludo and James, stood out and would have been a match for the very best of opponents over the years. New House, therefore, ran out winners, with 42 points to Blackford’s 38.

Will Daws - Deputy Head, Sixth Form

Arion vs Wellesley

It was a superb debate between Arion and Wellesley on the motion ‘this House believes that Europe should impose additional sanctions on Russia to increase pressure for peace in Ukraine’. Wellesley were proposing the motion and Nella, Sarah and Emily argued this exceptionally well. They were great on strategy and gave an excellent point of information which Mrs Garland and I really liked. Arion opposed the motion with Felicity, Ellie and Leah suggesting that we shouldn’t impose extra sanctions and all three of the girls used impressive examples and they addressed the audience exceptionally well. In the end it came down to the rebuttal with Arion just having the edge by appealing more to the audience and having more substantial arguments, so we awarded Wellesley 38 points to Arion’s 39 points. The standard of the debate was extremely high, and Mrs Garland and I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to adjudicate it. We look forward now to the semi-finals.  

Emily Simper - Deputy Head, Pastoral

#KSBDebating #KSBArion #KSBBlackford #KSBLyon #KSBNew #KSBPriory #KSBWellesley