There’s no debate: QE boys can present a good case

A QE team has qualified for the regional final of the Cambridge Schools’ Debating Competition. Gabriel Gendler and Ethan Axelrod from Year 13 were among six teams from the 24 entering the local heat to reach the next stage. The national final of the competition, which attracts entries from more than 500 schools each year, will take place in the historic Cambridge Union building in February.

In other debating news, Omar Haider and Zaheer Badat of Year 11 came third from 30 teams at the Haberdashers’ Young Parliamentarians’ Debating Competition, narrowly losing out to teams from Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School and Dame Alice Owen’s School.

“We entered two teams into the Haberdashers’ competition,” said teacher in charge of debating, Nisha Mayer. “Both performed well, but it was the B team of Omar and Zaheer who achieved a very creditable third place. Such debating competitions present an excellent opportunity for our boys to hone their persuasive linguistic skills, which can only stand them in good stead in later life.”