On 8 November, the Ipswich School Senior Debating Team competed in the first heats of the English-Speaking Union mace competition and successfully made it through to the next round which will take place in January. We were one of the three winning teams. Ipswich was assigned the proposition argument against St. Benedict’s School for the motion “This House would build homes on the Green Belt”.

The team was made up of Luke M (Year 11), Ellie R (Year 13), Lucia P (Year 13). The main points presented by the proposition were that building homes on the green belt would help to solve the housing crisis, and would not be removing any areas of natural beauty or environmentally important space, and conserving biodiversity. The opposition argued, however, that there would be significant damage to the environment and green spaces in Britain and this would be very harmful to the health of the public and the biodiversity in our country. Ipswich School’s proposition argument was evidently more convincing and eloquent – as suggested by a member of the floor! We look forward to the next round, which is set to take place in January 2025.

Article written by Lucia P, Year 13