Last week, six Earlscliffe students took part in the highly regarded Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition, a national event organised by the Oxford Union and hosted at Sevenoaks School.
The competition brought together hundreds of students from across the region, offering a unique opportunity to debate major contemporary issues in a university-style setting.
The debate provided students with first-hand experience of high-level debating while developing essential skills in teamwork, logical thinking, critical analysis and public speaking.
These are skills that sit at the heart of Earlscliffe’s mission as a small international boarding school: to prepare students for life at university and beyond.
The competition follows the British Parliamentary debating format, in which four teams of two students compete in each debate. Two teams argue in favour of the motion and two against it, but teams are ranked individually, encouraging students not only to collaborate effectively with their partner but also to outperform all other teams in the room.
Students were given just 15 minutes to prepare for each debate motion, without access to the internet, notes or external assistance. Each student delivered a five-minute speech, responding to motions covering a wide range of social, political and ethical topics. Judges assessed teams on the clarity, structure and persuasiveness of their arguments rather than factual recall, challenging students to think quickly and communicate with confidence under pressure.
Participation in this competition reflects the strength of Earlscliffe’s Debating Club, which takes place every Wednesday afternoon as part of the school’s Sports, Culture and Service (SCS) programme. All students at Earlscliffe participate in this programme and can choose from a wide variety of activities designed to support personal development alongside academic study.
The Debating Club is led by our dedicated English Language specialists, Mr Nolan and Mr Foster, who work closely with students to develop their spoken English, argumentation skills and academic confidence.
Mr Foster commented, “All of the students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, impressed us greatly with their commitment, and really entered into the spirit of the competition. They should be very proud of themselves.”
Opportunities such as the Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition not only enrich students’ school experience but also strengthen their university applications. Through debating, students improve their ability to express complex ideas clearly and persuasively, an essential skill for success in examinations, coursework and future university studies.