Students at Saint Paul’s are thriving in their Debate Mate sessions, where university students lead engaging extra-curricular debate workshops. These sessions are designed to enhance speaking and listening skills, boost higher-order thinking, and foster non-cognitive abilities such as confidence, teamwork, and leadership.
The Debate Mate programme not only focuses on honing debating skills but also aims to raise aspirations and help students make informed post-18 choices. By supporting young people in finding their voices, Debate Mate is nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.
Recently, Saint Paul’s students participated in the regional round of Debate Mate’s inter-school competitions held at the University of Manchester, facing off against other schools in the area. Despite being a new team, they demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill, winning their third debate against a well-organised team.
During the debate, the students had various roles and experiences. Mason took on the role of timekeeper for the teacher show debate, while Jacob won a University of Manchester tote bag for correctly answering a question. These achievements have given the students a taste of success, and they are eager to continue their journey next year.
Debate Mate is truly making a difference in the lives of Saint Paul’s students, empowering them to become confident, articulate, and informed individuals ready to take on future challenges.
