ISDA Debating Victory
Six girls. One complex question about elderly care. Seven months of Friday evenings spent honing their craft. Last week, it all came together with a win for ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ at the Independent Schools' Debating Association (ISDA) Grand Final.
The topic was challenging: 'That we prefer a world where the norm is that adult children take in their elderly parents to live with them, rather than a norm of supporting them to live separately'. ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ's Senior B Team of Annie, Saoirse, Ruby, Clemency, and Poppy (Year 11), and Mia (Year 10), argued the negative case in dynamic and compelling ways.
Not only did their arguments stand out, but their attitude of genuine engagement, rather than point-scoring, was inspiring. "You cannot win if you do not listen, consider, and invite other viewpoints," Ruby observed.
The other characteristic of their approach was hard work ─ the preparation began long before that final debate. From Term 1, every Friday has meant attending coaching sessions followed by evening debates ─ dissecting international relations, economics, environmental policy, and current affairs with their expert university-level coach.
"Everyone was super supportive and encouraging to each other," said Mia. "It made the experience really fun and it allowed us to improve at the same time." That collaborative spirit became the team’s strength, with each member contributing different perspectives to build stronger collective arguments.
Ms Brittany Skea, Director of Curriculum, sees this reflected across ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ's Debating Program. "It is through their commitment, dedication to the craft, and willingness to support their teammates that ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ debaters continue to thrive," she said. "Debating fosters teamwork, resilience, and a deeper understanding of the world around us ─ our students greatly value their weekly coaching sessions."
Another feature of ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ debating is the strength of community support it attracts. “The ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ spirit was high, with dozens showing up to support and cheer the team on,” Ms Skea observed.
This Senior B victory adds to ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ's growing ISDA reputation. Last year, the School claimed the Primary B championship, establishing ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ as a consistent presence across multiple age divisions in Sydney's premier independent schools debating competition.
According to Ruby: "Debating at ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ is such an enjoyable and beneficial experience and is very rewarding, even without winning". The skills the students have developed ─ critical thinking, active listening, and constructive disagreement ─ will support their future endeavours for years to come, regardless of the careers they choose.