TGS debaters excel at Oxford

Tonbridge Grammar School is celebrating after two of its debating teams qualified for the Finals Day of the prestigious Oxford University Debating Competition at the Oxford Union. The competition is highly regarded and attracts some of the best young debaters from across the world.

The two teams that qualified for the Finals Day were Holly and Ellen in Year 12, and Bella and Saraf in Year 13. The teams had to work hard to get to this stage, having qualified from the South-East Regional Final.

In British Parliamentary Debating, teams have only 15 minutes to prepare their cases after the motion is revealed. Debates then consist of four teams; two arguing in proposition and two in opposition.

The competition was tough, with the first round focusing on the motion "This House opposes the narrative that women can have it all." Despite the challenging topic, both teams gave excellent performances, with Bella and Saraf taking first place in their debate.

In the second round, the motion was "In areas of socioeconomic deprivation, this house would prioritise training students in vocational skills." Once again, both teams performed admirably, showcasing their debating skills and knowledge on the topic. Holly and Ellen took first place in their debate.

The final round saw both Tonbridge Grammar School teams competing against each other in the same room, with the motion "This house opposes career politicians." Both teams put forward compelling arguments against the motion, but in the end, it was Bella and Saraf who came out on top, with Holly and Ellen taking second place.

The school is proud of all its debaters who competed in the Oxford University Debating Competition and is thrilled that two teams made it to Finals Day. Tonbridge Grammar School's success in the competition highlights the high standard of debate and public speaking skills among its students.

The TGS Debating Society is not resting on its laurels, however, as it prepares to send three teams to the Cambridge University Debating Competition next weekend. The school is confident that its debaters will once again perform to the best of their abilities and make the school proud.