Youth Debating Competition

To release any pre competition nerves the teams and their supporters first enjoyed Senedd hospitality and were given an exclusive tour and presentation about the history and of the function of the Senedd.

The aims of the competition were to offer young people:
·  An experience of speaking on a public platform as members of a team.
·  An incentive to formulate ideas on topical subjects.
·  The discipline in dealing with a topic in a limited time.
·  The opportunity of learning and practising high standards of expression, presentation and appearance.
·  The impartial criticism and assessment of performance by experienced adjudicators.

Teams of three members, each taking a specific role, Chairperson, Proposer (speaking for the motion) and an Opposer (speaking against the motion) prepared and delivered a 15-minute debate on a topic of their choice in front of an audience in the debating chamber in in the original debating chamber of the Welsh Assembly, Siambr Hywel, in Ty Hywel.

The participating teams were:

Brynteg Comprehensive School, which debated ‘Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) beneficial to schools in modern society’.
The Chair was Ellie Davies, the Proposer Daisy Boo Davies and the Opposer Layla Johns.

Pencoed Comprehensive School, which debated ‘Does society benefit men more than women’
The Chair was Madeleine Pontevie, the Proposer was Megan Boxall and the Opposer was   Lauren McAndrew

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd which debated ‘Dylid cyfreithloni ewthanasia yn y Deyrnas Unedig’ (Euthanasia should be legalised in the United Kingdom’).
The Chair was Sophie Rees, the Proposer was Nia Jenkins and the Opposer was Megan Thornton. Stewart Reed was a travelling reserve.

The quality of the debates was extremely high and all teams had researched their subject extensively which they delivered with a competence belying the ages of the competitors.The adjudicators, Rotarian Rev. Mike Lewis, Rotarian Prof. Rt. Hon. Carwyn Jones and Luke Fletcher MS were given a most difficult task but eventually decided on the winner.

A lengthy review of all the teams’ performances was given by Rev. Mike Lewis in which he gave some useful tips and guidance to all public speakers. He concluded by declaring, that in a tightly fought contest, that the team representing Pencoed Comprehensive School was the winner.

The Rotary Club of Bridgend is most grateful to the competitors, the teachers, the adjudicators, the Senedd represented by Luke Fletcher MS and pci PHARMA for their support, encouragement and assistance in staging the event.