Premier's Debating Challenge

At Samuel Gilbert Public School students are offered many opportunities to develop skills in debating. This year, two Year 6 debating teams competed in the Premier's Debating Challenge, (Northern Sydney region) which is an inter-school debating competition. This competition is held during terms two and three with teams travelling to other schools for debates. Students meet and develop new friendships during this time. It is extremely challenging as the teams only have one and a half hours to prepare a debate.

"Debating has helped me to develop better listening and speaking skills, but most importantly, it's great fun!"

Both teams enjoyed success in the competition this year with our A team being awarded "Runners Up" in the Grand Final against Beecroft Public School. It was an outstanding achievement bearing in mind that there were 43 teams in the competition. Furthermore, as a result of the high standard of debating skills achieved, three of our students were nominated to attend the selection trials for the state debating championships.

In preparation for competitive debating in Year 6, a training squad of Year 5 students attend a debating session on a weekly basis. Each year, these students are offered the opportunity to attend a three-day debating camp with students from other schools in the Northern Sydney region. This has proven to be an invaluable experience for those lucky enough to attend.