Debate Mate Inspires Year 9 Students at Middlesex University

The Barnet Literacy and Oracy forum recently held its first inter-school event at Middlesex University. Just under a 100 Year 9 students visited campus to take part in workshops hosted by Debate Mate. BELS are grateful to the on-going partnership and collaboration with Middlesex University who funded this event and look forward to it becoming an annual addition to our calendars.

A group of 23 lively and forthright Year 9 students from Hendon School recently took part in the first exciting “MDX Barnet Great Debate Day” delivered by Debate Mate at Middlesex University, other schools in attendance were Bishop Douglass Catholic School, Friern Barnet School and St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School.

On arrival, students were welcomed by the university team and introduced to their two hugely enthusiastic mentors, Sean and Serena, who guided them through a packed day of debating activities. Drawing on what would normally be around 13 hours of teaching and learning, the Debate Mate team compressed the programme into a single action-packed day. Although there were some understandable nerves at the start, Sean and Serena quickly put students at ease through engaging games, collaborative tasks and high-energy activities designed to build confidence and communication skills. Students enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to learn how to construct arguments, respond to challenges and use debating techniques such as REEL and Points of Information. The atmosphere became even more focused when students realised they would be competing in formal debates against other schools before the end of the day. Working brilliantly as teams, they rose to the challenge and demonstrated increasing confidence, resilience and maturity.

The day culminated in two Hendon teams taking part in formal debates. While victory eluded them this time, both teams were praised for their collaboration, their use of debate structures and, in particular, their effective use of the Point of Information technique. Students were magnanimous in defeat, highly sportsmanlike throughout and full of appreciation for the enthusiasm, expertise and occasional “sass” of their mentors. Indeed, one student was so inspired that they asked, on the way back to school, whether Hendon could start a debating society next year. Watch this space!

Helen Flavin Literacy Lead