The much anticipated finals for the House of Commons Debating Challenge finally arrived on Friday 5th February 2010 having been postponed from December 2009.
Our team, made up of year 10 and 11 students, was Rosanna Brown, Hannah Solinunte, Henry Wisbey-Broom, Harry Cockerell and Stephanie Truscott (Reserve). Having already won their round against Rushcroft where they debated the motion ‘This House believes that religious beliefs cause far more harm than good,’ students were invited to attend a presentation ceremony hosted by The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP.
Iain Duncan Smith MP started off by showing a clip of MPs debating the Iraq War. This was followed by two extremely lively and exciting debates between the Year 13 - Finalists - Highams Park and Forest schools. Their first motion was on the re-introduction of Capital Punishment and their second, for which they were only given 20 minutes to prepare, was on Saddam Hussain. Highams Park won both debates.
Finally, the presentation ceremony -our team won the Year 11 category. Students received a plaque for the school and individual certificates as well as a special mention for their “unwilting support for Forest!â€
