The Great Debate

The Maynard School recently hosted the local heat of national competition 'The Great Debate'.

14 students in L6 took part from five schools. All the students spoke with confidence and passion for their chosen area of enquiry making it a really impressive evening. 

 

Background

The Great Debate is a public speaking competition where students have 5 minutes to present their speech arguing their answer to the question.

Over the past couple of years the competition has been growing in size, to encourages many young people to get involved as possible and to ensure as many local stories as possible are included we have decided to have twice as many heats as possible – in fact over 45 will be taking place around the country. Therefore, following the heat stage there will be a semi-final stage held virtually to select the 24 participants that will take part in the final in March 2025.

The competition for the next academic year will start in the autumn term of 2024 and the question being asked is: How can your local history tell a global story?

To answer this question students are encouraged to look at people, places, events, and initiatives that have happened in the past in their local area or one that they feel a connection to which has gone on to have a global role or impact?

They might want to examine, local campaign initiatives from the past, writers from their own area who affected events, literature or politics or inventions and technological developments.

Pupil Involvement

14 pupils aged 16 and 17