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STUDENT REPORT
The Great
Year 8 Debate
- an Insider’s View
By Bou Merritt and Hermione Peart 8F 2015/16
T
his summer term, 6 brave forms from across Year 8
battled to win the great honour of ‘The Best Debaters
of the year’. Topics ranged from current issues such
as the EU and HS2, more light-hearted ones like ‘Kim
Kardashian a feminist icon’, and slightly obscure ones:
‘life is a bowl of cherries’! To prepare the forms for the
competition, Mr Wynne (Chair of the Debates) and Miss
Dorsett-Bailey organised a masterclass to which three
selected members from each form attended. They were
taught how to structure the very best arguments and use
effective persuasive linguistic devices, so we could then
report back to our forms and begin the task of speech
writing before the start of the first round of the Great
Year 8 Debate…
Each debate had a proposing and opposing team
made up of three speakers: The first speaker had to
be confident, assertive and passionate, introducing key
points and explanations on why their team should win
in a seemingly short but actually quite lengthy two-
minute slot. Next would be the second speaker - this
person had possibly the hardest job of all, as they had
to find flaws in the opposing first speaker’s speech. In
their two-minute window. They had to respond to points
and throw statistics and facts into their talk to give a
strong, impactful speech with impact. Finally, the third
speaker would approach the audience and sum up
their full argument in a frighteningly fast-paced one-
minute speech- this person had to be clear, concise and
confident. They had to have a strong and memorable
performance to persuade the audience (of our fellow
class members) to vote for them.
After all the researching, organising and rehearsals, it
was soon the first day of the semi-finals. In some cases,
the speakers had to overcome their fear of public-
speaking. One speaker said, “At first I was terrified of
speaking in front of my friends and teachers but when I
got on stage, I performed the best I could - I think it went
really well! When I got off stage, I couldn’t stop smiling-
I actually found it really good fun and I had overcome
my fear!” The debates were truly an eye-opening
The following poemwas written and recited frommemory by Jaya Raval, 8A (2015/16) during the competition
final. Jaya’s form were speaking in favour of the motion ‘This House believes that life is a bowl of cherries’.
LIFE IS A BOWL OF CHERRIES
Would you like a cherry?
A whole life filled to the brim?
A bowl full of sweet
simplicities...
and anything else you fit in.
There are people and memories
and opportunities to feast upon
because life is a bowl of cherries
and it’s only just begun.
A bowl of little, round people
gleaming red with every sunrise
that will range from sweet to sour
(ripening always takes time...)
There's a stone laying right at the centre
tough, but soft at heart.
It’s strong and it keeps us together,
stops us from falling apart.
When life is a bowl of cherries
it needn’t be more or less.
When life is a bowl of cherries
you get to eat up all the mess
because there are good things and bad things
experience: everyone embraced their team spirit
and became incredibly supportive and competitive.
Despite there being only 3 speakers from each form,
the rest joined the floor and clapped and cheered
for their team at the top of their voices! The rest of
the form also had an opportunity to join in when Mr
Wynne threw the debate to the floor, allowing others
to ask opposing teams the “difficult” questions.
After two exciting and astounding rounds, the 6 forms
were cut down to only two, left to perform in the Great
Year 8 Debate Grand Finale. The two forms, A and F,
were given only one week to prepare: tensions rose,
people became extra cautious and secretive. From a
one-hour masterclass at the start of term, no one could
have guessed that 10 weeks later, they would battle
for the title of “The Great Year 8 Debate Winner”.
Nevertheless, all forms had an immensely enjoyable
and exciting time preparing and performing in the
rounds, despite the nerves and shaking hands! It was
an unforgettable experience which brought forms
closer together adopting great team spirit.
Members of the winning team: Jaya Raval 8A, Fiona
Dignam 8A & Olivia Harrison 8A (2015-/16)
and you'll see both of them
when you are knocked down just get back up again.
A cherry like the blood flowing red through our veins.
A cherry like the perfect topping of a cupcake.
The colour at the edge of a rainbow
glistening through the tears of the sky
because even the biggest monsters
can sometimes want to cry.
Whenever things might seem bad
just think about your life as a little snack
because whether it's just a metaphor
or a philosophical truth
this life is a bowl of cherries and it belongs to you.
The cherries hang together
with their stalks facing up -
just how we're all in this together
raising our fists above.
You might think this bowl is normal at first sight
but cherries are diverse and there is no wrong or right.
Don't worry about the bitter
just think about the sweet.
Life is a bowl of cherries so have a merry little feast!!!
