QE paired up with Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead to run a Year 9 debating symposium for the first time.
Fifteen Year 9 boys visited the girls’ school to debate in mixed pairs over a whole day. Nirmal Chohan and Alex Davis made it to the final with their debating partners, with Nirmal and his partner winning the tournament.
In the International Young Debaters Competition, Year 10 students Rishikesh Chakraborty and Callum O’Sullivan beat off stiff competition to reach the finals earlier in the term. They debated against several other schools at the Cambridge Union and were eventually placed in the Top 10. Four Year 10 boys also attended the Great Pharmacy Debate competition and were placed third.
Year 11 debaters have enjoyed similar success at the Rotary Speaks competition. Thomas Elliot, Arjun Sajip and Jesse-Steve Amartey [pictured] passed through the local competition held by the Rotary Club in Finchley and reached the regional event in London at the City of London School, even though they were among the youngest entrants. They were highly commended for their speeches.