While debating and speaking play a large role in learning across the curriculum, there are also a number of opportunities for girls to pursue their interest and talent in these areas beyond the classroom.
The Debating Society, open to Years 11 to US2, meets on a Thursday lunchtime in the Lecture Theatre. Run by a Committee of US2 girls and overseen by two members of staff, the debates range from the topical to the philosophical to pure comedy. Abingdon boys and teachers are regularly invited as guest speakers. The school also enters a range of national debating competitions, including the ESU Mace and the Oxford and Cambridge Union competitions. Recent successes include an US1 team reaching the regional rounds of the ESU Mace. The Debating Club, which is open to Years 7 to 10, meets on a Monday lunchtime in the Lecture Theatre. Introducing our younger girls to the art of debating, the club is run by US1 girls and a member of the English department. Highlights this year have included a ‘friendly’ match against Abingdon’s Lower School Debating Club, in which the girls won both debates; this bodes well for the future of debating in the school. The school also enters a team of eight US1 girls into the annual European Youth Parliament competition, last year reaching the National Forum held in Durham and being awarded third place in the traditionally highly competitive format. Internal school competitions are organised by the English department in Year 8 and Year 11.
There is an internal public speaking competition in Years 9 and 10 which is run by the English department. The winners of this often go on to represent the school in national public speaking competitions including Rotary ‘Youth Speaks’ and the ESU Public Speaking Competition. In 2010-11, Year 9 and Year 10 teams were selected at the district round of ‘Youth Speaks’ to represent the school at the Zone Finals. Teams are also entered for specialist competitions including the ESU Shakespeare debate and ESU Dickens debate.
Two further competitions offer small groups of girls the opportunity to pursue their talents in an enjoyable yet competitive arena: Schools Challenge is based on the perennially popular TV programme University Challenge, and offers girls from all year groups the chance to pit their general knowledge skills against teams from other independent schools. The Times Spelling Bee takes place in the Trinity term, and four Year 7 girls who have undergone a rigorous selection procedure in English lessons represent the school in this fun competition, based on the American spelling bee model.