Sponsored by “pci PHARMA” of Bridgend and supported by Luke Fletcher MS, Rotary Bridgend hosted a debating competition for sixth form pupils in the Senedd in Cardiff, with the aims of offering learners:
- An experience of speaking on a public platform as members of a team.
- An incentive to formulate ideas on topical subjects.
- The discipline in dealing with a topic in a limited time.
- The opportunity of learning and practising high standards of expression, presentation and appearance.
- The impartial criticism and assessment of performance by experienced adjudicators.
Teams of three members, each taking a specific role, Chairperson, Proposer (speaking for the motion) and an Opposer (speaking against the motion) prepared and delivered a 15-minute debate on a topic of their choice in front of an audience in the debating chamber in in the original debating chamber of the Welsh Assembly, Siambr Hywel, in Ty Hywel.
To release any pre-competition nerves the teams and their supporters first enjoyed Senedd hospitality and were given an exclusive tour and presentation about the history and of the function of the Senedd.
Year 12 learners Maddie, Megan, and Lauren chose ‘Does society benefit men more than women’ as their debate topic. The quality of the debates was extremely high; all teams had researched their subjects extensively, and delivered with a competence belying their ages.
The adjudicators, Rotarian Rev. Mike Lewis, Rotarian Prof. Rt. Hon. Carwyn Jones and Luke Fletcher MS were given a most difficult task but eventually decided on the winner.
A lengthy review of all the teams’ performances was given by Rev. Mike Lewis in which he gave some useful tips and guidance to all public speakers. He concluded by declaring, that in a tightly fought contest, that the team representing Pencoed 6th Form Centre’s team were the winners!