Village Matters

Youth Speaks Debate Competition 2021

Shepperton Aurora Rotary Club is very pleased that this year’s Youth Speaks- A Debate compe-tition is able go ahead; the intermediate competition took place on Tuesday 9th November at the Jubilee Centre, Manygate Lane, Shepperton but due to Covid there were fewer teams. The com-petition is in the form of a debate with each team consisting of a Chairperson, Proposer and Opposer; the team choose their own topic for debate. 

Three secondary schools were represented on the evening and all the teams gave presentations of a high standard which did not make it easy for the adjudicators who, this year, were Pauline Hedges, Peter Newman and Rosie Noble; all three commented on how impressed they were with the students and how much they had enjoyed their evening. 

The winning team was Halliford School , pictured, (Oliver White, Toby Hill and Dion Henderson) with their debate on “Everyone should become vegan” and Toby Hill of Halliford School was named the best proposer. 

Thomas Wells of Bishop Wand School was named the best opposer; his team debated The lack of diversity in the Eng-lish and History curriculum”. 

Harry Hicks of Thomas Knyvett College was named the best chairperson; his team debated “Space Exploration-should we splash the cash?” 

Everyone present- teachers, family members and Rotarians, agreed that the evening had been very successful and enjoyable. 

The seniors competition took place later in November after this publication had gone to print..