Youth Speaks 2024

What a busy couple of days we had last week with the first rounds of our annual Youth Speaks - Debate Competition!

First of all, we went to Queen’s College on Wednesday 24^th January to listen to and adjudicate their  Intermediate age group teams. Subjects ranged from a boys team debating “Men are obsolete”, a girls team debating “Capital punishment should be banned worldwide”, and the winning girls team of Maryam, Makanaka, and Freya, who really shone with their debate on Human Cloning. The adjudicators had no hesitation in sending them to the Area Semi-Final at Bishop Foxs’ School which took place last Friday!

The competition at the Semi-Final was much stiffer, with entries from Bishop Fox’s, Pyrland School, Danesfield Middle School Williton, and the West Somerset College from Minehead. The Queen’s girls did really well again, and just pipped Bishop Fox’s to take the Intermediate Shield, with Makanaka winning the best Speaker’s Award. Bishop Fox’s won the Senior Competition with their debate on “Stronger legislation is required to protect the environment”. Both these teams went through to the District Final which was held at Kings of Wessex School, Cheddar on Saturday 2^nd March where they gave good account of themselves. Well done all those who took part.

Many thanks are due to all those who participated, making it a most enjoyable competition. Thanks also must go to members of the the Rotary Clubs of Taunton and Minehead, and the ladies from Inner Wheel who joined forces to organise, manage and judge the competition.