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On Monday 4th March HASJW took eight students (four year 10s and four Year 12s) to a debate competition called Frankly Speaking. The competition involved several schools from London, Croydon and Manchester. Initially students spent the morning at the historic Benjamin Franklin House Museum in Craven Street. Years 10 debated two motions, 'This house believes that decisions about children's health should be made by medical professionals and not their parents' and 'This house believes that national security should take priority over individual rights'. Simultaneously the year 12s debated 'This house believes we should support quotas for women in high government positions' and 'This house would ban strikes by those working in essential services'. There were two heats and a semi-final each with limited preparation time. The semi- final motion was the same for both year groups 'This house believes that cultural treasures should be returned to their areas of origin.'

Tyler Barrett-McClean and Ryan White were a fine team.

Mali Delargy (medal winner for runner up individual speaker)and Maria Cavalho became finalists at the American Embassy and were erudite and convincing. They proposed the motion ' This house supports the use of pesticides for food production'.

Rowida Satti and Khadija Mohamed worked so well together.

Robin Bahrami and Omonigho Umude also became excellent finalists for the Sixth Form in the American Embassy. They opposed the motion 'This house would ban the use of genetically modified pesticides'.

All the students were fantastic- forceful and presidential. They were also friendly with students from other schools and 'the Daughters of the American Revolution' museum and embassy staff and were perfect role models.

Sharon Worthington

Lead Practitioner for Oracy