School Matters 36

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ENVIRONMENT- THEMED HOUSE DEBATING

repartee, Yeva “Yelfa” Kebabdjian and Olivia “Olivielf” Arbor won the day for Brearley. Finally, the VI debate considered perhaps the most fundamental question underpinning modern climate change debates: “This House believes that Environmentalism and Capitalism are inherently incompatible”. It was a cerebral affair, with complex economic and philosophical theory flying around the room. Yet at the end of it all, it was Leonie Hay, School Debating Captain, and Kirsty McMillan of Paget House who commanded the favour of the judges. Tremendous servants to the cause of IPS debating, they retire undefeated after seven consecutive years of House Debating victories. Our intrepid pupils put their public speaking skills to the test in the annual House Debating competition. This year’s theme was ‘The Environment’, and six excellent debates took place across the Senior School.

Senior 8 in action

The S7 debate was won by Findlay House, with Roscoe Jenkin and Stella Read successfully arguing against the motion “This House would become a vegetarian”. Findlay had further success in the S8 debate, held in a packed Library over lunchtime. Augustin Rallon and Hilary Hanslin convincingly proposed, “This House would ban cars from city centres”. The S9s broached the question of support for the environmental activism movement, with Montefiore’s Imogen Day and Lorenza Rees triumphing in their debate on this topic.

Senior 10 gathered in the Theatre for their debate, “This House supports the rising trend of celebrities and influencers taking key roles in environmental activism”. With a pair of outstanding speeches, Raya Grayde and Honor Lynn gave Brearley their first win. After the intensity of the Mock Examinations, PVI enjoyed the levity of the traditional lighter-hearted debate on the seasonally appropriate topic, “This House believes Santa should publish the ‘Naughty and Nice’ lists”. With precise argumentation and witty PUPILS LEAD THE WAY, BUT EUNICE WREAKS HAVOC ON CAMPUS Remarkably, when the final scores were added up and tie-breaks considered, it was a dead heat between Findlay and Brearley, who emerge as joint winners of House Debating 2022. Thank you to all the Pupils and Staff who generously gave their time and expertise competition. See you all next year! Dr Matt Hazell, Teacher of Debate and Rhetoric

As reported on the front page, members of the newly formed Eco-Committee, alongside an accomplished group of Senior 8 speakers, explained to pupils at an assembly organised by Mrs Newton, some of the issues under consideration at the COP26 conference and why they matter so much. Within just a few weeks, it was sad to see an elderly apple tree in the Orchard felled by the 80mph winds which accompanied Storm Eunice. The storm, one of three within the matter of a few days to hit the UK, swept through the School campus causing much damage. It was a timely, if unwelcome, reminder

Senior 8 in action

of the impact of changing global weather patterns on our climate.