Debating Junior State Champions!

British Parliamentary Debating Junior State Champions

Congratulations to Year 7 students Jade Holcombe, Prisha Rewal and Olivia Woodhouse who won the Debaters Association of Victoria Junior British Parliamentary Grand Final!

After finishing in the top four teams of the Junior British Parliamentary State Tournament earlier this term (the teams comprised of Year 7 and 8 debaters from across Victoria), Olivia, Jade and Prisha qualified for a place in the Grand Final. They gathered online for one final secret topic debate against teams from Haileybury College’s City and Keysborough Campuses and Mentone Girls Grammar School. One hour before the debate the topic ‘That we should ban filters on social media’ was released and the girls drew the role of Opening Opposition Speakers. 

In an outstanding result, a unanimous adjudication panel decision named them the winners, making them the Junior British Parliamentary Debating State Champions!

Well done to Olivia, Jade and Prisha. Despite only having done a handful of secret topics and British Parliamentary style debates and coming up against a series of older and more experienced teams, they were able to present some excellent speeches and quick-witted retorts to claim a well-deserved win in the Grand Final Debate. Congratulations to these students on an outstanding achievement, which also clinched this championship for Huntingtower for the third year running!

Matthew McDonald Head of English