On the 24th of February, 6 students from Year 12 in Bentley Wood Sixth Form attended Kings College London for a debating competition as part of an extra-curricular activity. Students practiced the regional cases, which were released several months in advance to help in preparation to the event. Cases include controversial topics of debate including 11 cases from the ban on plastic straws to male circumcision. Last year this event occurred online, due to the pandemic, however this year it resumed in person at Bush House campus. Students were accommodated by Ms Crosbie and Mr Gibson to attend this event and travelled by train from Stanmore Station, leaving at 7:30am and returned at around 3:00pm.
What is the purpose of the Ethics Cup?
The Ethics Cup was introduced by the University of St Andrews and is a highly prestigious civil debating competition, with the winning team receiving a silver trophy. The debate encourages critical thinking skills and is beneficial in confidence development and public speaking skills, which are useful for future interactions. The debate also encourages insightfulness as students respond carefully to judges’ comments in the 10-minute segment when judges can ask anything, as professional experts in the subject area. Students are encouraged to use precise knowledge, which may include case studies or statistics.
How was the day?
The day consisted of three rounds of debating competitions between two schools in each round, competing for a place in the final, which is held online. Students debated in a room full of members of competing teams and were required to present their arguments in the given time limit. Many students from Bentley Wood were privileged to attend this highly prestigious competition, such as Claudia Iacob, who stated that “it definitely was an enjoyable experience, as it was great to hear the different views on topical issues. The team organiser, Alice Jones, calls it a “good opportunity and great experience”.
Overall, the ethics cup was a fantastic experience in the development of a variety of beneficial skills, such as researching, analysing, and debating. I would highly recommend this event to students in Year 12 and encourage them to participate in this amazing enrichment opportunity. The competition encourages higher level and critical thought for students with a keen interest in debating!
For all the latest Education News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
