SCHOOL pupils from The Challenge Academy Trust were invited to hone their oracy skills at a recent ‘Debate Day’ hosted by Priestley College.

The Year 10s took part in a morning of oracy workshops before the Debate Competition in the afternoon.

“We wanted to share our love of debating and workshop some of the oracy skills we have been developing in the Debate Society with the younger students,” said teacher Tony Muirhead.

Five teams from four schools took part and the final debate was attended by parents, teachers and fellow debaters.

Tony said it showcased the amazing talent in the local community and helped the young people develop confidence, meet new people and test formal debating in a live and dynamic setting.

“One thing that really stood out for me was the respectful way in which pupils communicated and how supportive they were towards their teammates,” said Martine Molyneux, MFL Lead Practitioner for TCAT.

“It was amazing to see what Year 10 pupils were able to produce, particularly in the final with very little preparation time.”

Priestley students led the morning sessions and were involved with the debate in the afternoon.

Organisers praised the young people for their comprehensive, well-structured arguments that used rhetoric devices and sophisticated vocabulary.

The winner of our first Priestley Debate Competition was Bridgewater Team 2, who impressed the judges for the clarity and persuasiveness of their speeches, their ability to respond effectively to rebuttals and their overall professionalism and maturity.

Bridgewater High School was presented with the inaugural trophy.

Martine added: “I thought the way the debates were structured, giving constructive feedback after each heat and lots of specific praise, was perfect and it seemed to me like all of the pupils really enjoyed themselves.”