Bablake Sixth Formers Impress Once Again At Local Democracy Week Event

It is excellent to report that a team of Bablake Sixth Formers once again won the debating competition in the Coventry City Council 2016 Democracy Week. Mrs Helen Sawyer (Symposium coordinator) was on hand with this report:

"A Lower Sixth team consisting of Aaran Bhatti, Bhat-Ammi Francis, Alexandra Hamilton and Jack Poppitt took part in Coventry City Council's flagship event last week. 

In the first round they debated against WMG Academy, who proposed the motion: 'This House believes compulsory school uniforms should be abolished'. Alex opened the opposition's debate with the philosophical and mental health reasons that support school uniform, while Aaron supported this by arguing against the motion on financial and practical grounds. Bhat-Ammi summarised and clarified the points where both teams clashed, finishing with very strong reasons to keep school uniform.

Once through to the final against President Kennedy School, Bablake won the chance to oppose the motion: 'This House believes that Brexit will be good for Britain'.  The team focused its arguments on the benefits to the UK, in terms of economy, security and immigration, of staying in the EU, and that therefore Brexit would not be good for Britain. Once again, a rigorous summing up on points of difference put Bablake in a very strong position.

Jack Poppitt acted as Chair in running a debate for two other schools. He had to tell the speakers when to speak and stop (when over time) as well as run the Q & A session. He helped prepare the material for both our debates, and had to be prepared to stand in at the last minute should he have been needed to debate.

The judges announced Bablake the winners for 2016 and the team was congratulated by the Lord Mayor of Coventry."

Official photos from the event, including the one accompanying this article, may be viewed here.