On Friday 3rd February, eight local schools battled it out for the 6th Watford Inter-School Debating Cup, held in Parliament.
Teams of students from years 10 to 13 took part from Watford Boys, Parmiter’s, Bushey Meads, Watford Girls, Frances Combe, St Michael’s, St Clement Danes and Queens’ debating topics such as Brexit, climate change, censorship and Donald Trump's presidency.
Richard Harrington, MP for Watford, alongside David Gauke, MP for South West Hertfordshire, and Lord Maurice Glasman chaired the debates.
It was a knock-out competition, judged on debating style and the quality of arguments made. Students had to impress a panel of respected judges, including Lord Stuart Polak, Charlotte Ikonen of the Watford Observer, Herts Education Cabinet Member Cllr David Williams and Chairman of Herts County Council Frances Button.
In the final, Queens’ and Watford Boys debated the motion ‘Britain will have more influence outside the European Union’, with Watford Boys arguing against the proposition and Queens' arguing in favour. Watford Boys went on to clinch victory in the closely fought debate, winning the title of Watford Debating Champions, a trophy and £150 of Intu vouchers. Both the winners and the runners' up, Queens' School, will be invited to tea with the House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow MP.
This is the sixth year of the competition which was won last year by Watford Girls, the year before by Bushey Meads, and the three years before that by Queens'.
Speaking about the event Richard Harrington MP said:
“I am always so impressed at the quality of these debates and the effort the students put into it- and this year was no exception! The judges told me how difficult they found it to choose between the two finalists- but in the end there has to be a winner and I congratulate Watford Boys Grammar who are the 2017 Debating Champions. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and I’m already looking forward to the next one.
I think it’s so important to engage young people with politics and a debating competition is great way to boost confidence and gain public speaking experience”