This year's event saw an incredible 124 debates and 744 speeches delivered over the course of the day.

What makes our students' achievement even more impressive is that all but one of the team were complete novices, taking part in their very first competitive debate. Despite this, they embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and confidence, debating against students from schools across the country.

Throughout the day, students debated a range of thought-provoking issues, including the ethics of journalism, the most effective ways to create social and political change, and the responsibilities of bystanders in difficult situations. They performed exceptionally well, winning several of their debate heats and demonstrating impressive critical thinking, teamwork and public speaking skills. Competitive debating requires students to analyse complex issues, think on their feet and communicate their ideas clearly under pressure, all the skills our students showcased brilliantly.

The competition was also an excellent opportunity for our students to demonstrate our school values. They showed intellect by constructing thoughtful, evidence-based arguments, empathy by listening carefully to and engaging respectfully with opposing viewpoints, and courage by speaking publicly and defending their ideas in front of judges and competitors from across the country.

We are incredibly proud of the whole team. It takes a great deal of courage and intellectual curiosity to stand up and debate publicly, particularly for the first time, and every student represented the school with maturity, resilience and enthusiasm. Congratulations to our debaters on a fantastic achievement!

Miss Custer