This term has witnessed a quite outstanding Year 9 Inter-House Debating Competition. There was not a weak team across the seven houses which meant strong teams such as Howson’s, Tallis and Woodlands exited at the first-round stage. 

The semi-finals saw Queens’ triumph over Edinburgh opposing the motion ‘This House would abolish SATs for schoolchildren in England’, with Farfield successfully proposing the motion ‘This House would follow the lead of France and ban short-haul flights in the UK wherever viable train alternatives exist’ against Oakeley.   

The final was a rematch of the first-round tie but with the reverse result as Wild Card Farfield (Will, Connor and James) successfully defended the motion ‘This House would introduce a cap on the price of basic food items in Britain’ against the opposition, Queens’ (Ilana, Charlotte and Evie). 

Farfield now hold the Carolyn Thomas Trophy for 2022-23 and join Queens’ (Seniors) and Tallis (Year 10 and 11) as Wild Card teams who lost their first match but went on to win the competition.  

We resume in September with a new house, Arkell, entering the Senior competition for the first time.