Debating Society Bulletin 2024-2025 by habselstreeschools

Debating Society Bulletin 2024-2025

The Debate Of Socrates And Aspasia

Nicolas-André Monsiau

Oil on Canvas

Note from the Head of Debating

Debating is an art, a discipline, and a lifelong skill. It teaches us to listen as much as we speak, to persuade with logic rather than volume, and to embrace the challenge of defending both sides of an argument. It sharpens our minds, fuels our curiosity, and reminds us that the best ideas are forged in the fire of discussion.

This academic year has seen Debating flourish across our co-educational campus. From weekly training sessions and national competitions, to various Interhouse events and a workshop led by World Debating Champion Aniket Chakravorty (OH 2020).

In what follows, I look forward to sharing some of our achievements with the wider Haberdashers’ community. I would like to sincerely thank our outgoing Committee, consisting of Debating Captain William (SFS2), Debating Vice-Captain Zakariya (SFR2), Competitions Secretary Sohan (SFM2), and Publicity Officer Shivam (SFH3), for their tireless efforts in making Debating accessible and, crucially, enjoyable.

On a personal note, I am delighted to be taking on the role of Head of Debating at Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools from September 2025. As a former Mace debater, I have a vested interest in this discourse.

I look forward to strengthening the bonds between our schools and ensuring that all members of our student community gain inspiration and confidence through valuing the power of public speaking.

For those who are interested in exploring Debating resources, I would recommend those from Debating for Everyone, Debate Mate, Debate Hub, and the English-Speaking Union.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with me via skhurjekar@habselstree.org.uk.

Mrs Sailee Khurjekar Head of Debating

Jargon

Debating jargon refers to the specialised words and phrases commonly used in the world of competitive Debating. These terms help debaters communicate ideas quickly and clearly, especially during structured rounds where time is limited.

Below is a simplified list of common debating jargon, with explanations:

• Motion the topic being debated, e.g., THBT honesty is not always the best policy.

• Proposition the team that agrees with the motion.

• Opposition the team that disagrees with the motion.

• Constructive Speech the main speech where debaters build their arguments.

• Rebuttal responding to and attacking the other team’s arguments.

• POI (Point of Information) a short interruption (question or comment) made by the other team during a speech.

• Clash — direct disagreement between two arguments or ideas.

• Burden of Proof — the responsibility to prove your side of the motion being argued.

• Framework the set of rules or perspective for judging the debate. Sets up how the arguments will be weighed.

• Impact the real-world result or importance of an argument.

• Extension a new, deeper argument introduced by later speakers.

• Weighing comparing arguments to show why yours matters more.

Training Sessions

We have three training sessions after school each week which run during term time. Tuesdays are dedicated to Y7-Y8 (Middle School), Wednesdays are dedicated to Y9-Y10 (Upper School), and Thursdays are dedicated to Y11-U6 (Senior School). From September 2025, all our sessions will be joint, allowing boys and girls to compete against one another, or potentially team up.

The main form we compete in is British Parliamentary Debating, which is a popular format used in university-level competitions around the world, including the World Universities Debating Championship.

Each debate has four teams with two speakers each:

• Opening Government (OG)

• Opening Opposition (OO)

• Closing Government (CG)

• Closing Opposition (CO)

OG starts with defining the motion and presenting arguments. OO rebuts OG and gives counterarguments. CG extends the Government case with new material. CO extends the Opposition case similarly. Speeches at our Junior level tend to be around 3 minutes, building up to 5 minutes from Y9 onwards.

All four teams are ranked from 1st to 4th place. The goal is not just to beat the other side, but to outperform all three other teams. Judges evaluate matter (quality and relevance of arguments), manner (style and clarity of delivery), and method (structure and strategy).

Our Debating sessions are run by our Senior debaters. Judges must remain neutral and fair. Students do not prepare for the motions beforehand and have only 15 minutes to plan their speeches without the use of external resources, including textbooks and AI.

The students have debated on a range of interesting motions so far, including but not limited to: the abolition of the monarchy; the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports; veganism; and whether we should fund space exploration.

Competitions

The students will have competed in twelve national competitions this academic year, two of which included qualification into the prestigious Finals Day at both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

Some highlights are included below:

• UCL Schools, November 2024 – Aarav (11H2) and Samit (11R1) broke into the Bronze Finals, in which they were runners-up. They were one point away from securing a place in the Silver Finals.

• LSE Schools, November 2024 – Nazim (11S2) and Feeza (L6 KP) broke into the Bronze Finals. They narrowly missed out on a win.

• Oxford Schools Regionals, January 2025 – Aarav (11H2) and Samit (11R1) broke and qualified for the Grand Final at the University of Oxford.

• ICYD Regionals, February 2025 – Zachary (10C2), Yash (10J2), Arya (10C1), and Lani (10R1) broke and qualified for the Grand Final at the University of Cambridge.

• Imperial Schools, March 2025 – Lucas (11C2) and Richard (11R1) broke into the Silver Finals. They narrowly missed out on a win.

• Durham Schools, March 2025 – Following five qualification rounds, 7 out of our 8 teams broke. Madhav (SFC1), Sohan (SFM2), Lucas (11C2), Richard (11R1), Daniel (11S2), and Aarav (11H1) qualified for the Open Semi-Finals. Tamara (10 ANSUZ) and Aanya (10 A) qualified for the Novice Grand Final, where they were runners-up.

The students have debated on a range of interesting topics during these competitions, including but not limited to: social media anonymity; the aestheticisation of suffering in music; environmental activism; and the electrification of transport. We hope to continue building on this success and hopefully bring home some silverware.

Interhouse Events

Interhouse events at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School encourage spirited competition amongst the Houses. We have three Interhouse Debating competitions per year, with two year groups competing in each strand. Interhouse Debating takes place across Terms 2 and 3.

We have six Houses that are in contention: Calverts Hendersons

Joblings Meadows Russells Strouts

There were six motions, with half being used for the Heats and the other half being used for the Finals:

• THBT parents should teach their children to question authority.

• THBT all faiths should allow female religious leaders.

• THW punish sports teams for the misbehaviour of their fans.

• THBT politicians do not have a right to a private life.

• THR the rise of AI generated art.

• THR the rise of cancel culture.

Congratulations to the pairs below for winning the Debate in each strand:

Y7-Y8: Devang (8S2) and Sahil (8S2)

Y9-Y10: Tobey (10J1) and Ethan (10J2)

Y11-L6: Lucas (11C2) and Philip (11C2)

Intraschool Competition

Student debaters who take initiative demonstrate leadership, curiosity, and a strong commitment to growth. Their proactive mindset fosters a dynamic learning environment where critical thinking and collaboration thrive. Additionally, their motivation is rooted in a desire to excel and contribute meaningfully, which builds resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of ownership. One of the highlights of the calendar was the inaugural Intraschool Competition, organised exclusively by U6 students. It allowed students from both schools to compete in a first-rate Debating competition within school grounds.

Below is a report from our Competitions Secretary Sohan (SFM2):

In the hallowed halls of the Old Refectory, with the illustrious list of former Debating captains bearing down, four of our finest Debating teams fought it out for the ultimate prize: the glory of being crowned the first-ever Haberdashers’ Debating champions.

The four teams which reached the Grand Final after multiple qualification rounds were: SVAR (Samit and Aarav); RZDL (Richard and David); DSPM (Daniel and Lucas); and FPNZ (Feeza and Nazim). A massive thank you to David for taking Lucas’ place while he had the flu.

With esteemed guests, including our Headmaster Mr Sykes, the omnipresent Mr Simm, Debating connoisseur Mr Brennan, our brilliant Head of Debating Mrs Khurjekar, and many of you in attendance, our four teams battled it out in an engaging high-level debate, arguing whether a hypothetical student should take a job offer to be a manga artist, over a place at business school.

Our expert panel of U6 judges, led by none other than our one and only Debating Captain William, had a fiercely contested and heated deliberation, but in the end the four of us came to a unanimous call.

So, huge congratulations to the inaugural winners of the Intraschool Debating Competition: FPNZ (Feeza and Nazim).

Committee

The incoming Debating Committee was elected in May 2025, following a rigorous application process. The field of applications was incredibly strong, with 25 applicants applying for 6 positions.

The Haberdashers’ Elstree Debating Society Committee 2025-2026 is:

Captain Madhav (SFC1)

Vice-Captains Gautham (SFC1) and Feeza (L6 KP)

Competitions Secretary Lucas (11C2)

Publicity Officers Richard (11R1) and Ojal (11 Aesc)

For the first time in our schools’ history, Feeza will be the first student from Haberdashers’ Girls to hold a Vice-Captain position. Her name, alongside Madhav and Gautham, with be carved onto the board in the Old Refectory, which is located in Aldenham House.

Madhav’s brother, OH Dhruv Kaushik, was Debating Captain in 2017. Therefore, also for the first time in our schools’ history, we have our first pair of brothers to hold the Captain position.

One of the Committee’s aims is to continue providing workshops for students who are committed to competing in national competitions. In February 2025, we welcomed Aniket Chakravorty (OH 2020) for a four-hour coaching workshop in the Aske Hall.

Since leaving the Boys’ School, Aniket has thrived in the university Debating scene. Most notably, he was the Champion at the World University Debating Championships in 2024; is the coach for Oxford’s Advanced Debating Squad; and offers support to England’s National Debating Squad. We hope for our students to follow in his footsteps in the coming years.

Debating holds an important historical tradition at the Boys’ School, and we are incredibly passionate about improving access to the same opportunities at the Girls’ School. Already, we have a strong set of up-andcoming debaters on both sides of the pond, and we will continue to build on this next academic year.

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