29 January 2021
Mr Thomas Hayward, Head of Classics and organiser of Woldingham’s Debating Society
Well done to Sixth Formers Milan, Khushi, Desiree and Molly on their strong performance in the first round of the prestigious Oxford Union Schools Cup debating competition, which was held online this year.
The students debated in teams, with Milan and Khushi forming an Upper Sixth team and Desiree and Molly a Lower Sixth team. Both teams spoke in two debates against schools from across the South East region. The first motion, this house regrets the glamourisation of start-up culture, saw the teams analysing the economic and personal consequence of entrepreneurialism versus traditional career paths. The second, this house as ethnic minority parents of children living in high-crime areas in the USA, would teach their children to mistrust the police and other figures of the justice system, saw a lively debate addressing structural racism and exploration of how best to bring about reform.
The competition brought out the best traditions of free speech and reasoned analysis.