During the course of the year, over 800 teams from four continents took part in regional and international rounds. One hundred teams were selected to take part in the finals at Oxford. Joining British schools were teams from Ireland, the Netherlands, Dubai, India, Canada, and Australia. After so many debates moving online during Covid lockdowns, this was a welcome opportunity for pupils to debate in person at the Oxford Union.
With only fifteen minutes to prepare for each of the four motions, Thomas and William spoke persuasively on social media, universal basic income, parental pressure and citizen journalism. They placed first in two of their rounds and top third overall in an extremely competitive field.
Run by the Oxford Union, Oxford’s Schools’ is the largest British parliamentary school-level debate competition in the world, and the largest debating competition in the UK for pupils aged 14-18. The Union is one of the most prestigious debating societies in the world, with an unparalleled reputation for hosting renowned speakers from around the globe. Established over 195 years, the society has a long tradition of challenging thought and aiming to promote debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but around the world.
