Talented pupils put debating skills to test
Runner-up spot at prestigious national competition
Talented pupils from a Hamilton school have something special to shout about after they finished as runners-up in a Uk-wide debating competition.
St John Ogilvie High’s intermediate public speaking team of Louie Bonnar, Matthew Robertson and Lucas Quinn took second place in the Rotary Youth Speaks contest in Norwich.
The second-year pupils qualified for the overall final after their impressive success in winning the all-scotland and Ireland title, and have been praised by staff and classmates at the Burnbank school for their “huge achievement”.
Each team in the final, hosted by the Rotary Club of Norwich, presented a debate on a chosen topic and the St John Ogilvie youngsters considered the arguments for and against the motion “homework is a good thing”.
Lucas took on the role of chairperson and managed proceedings, as Matthew spoke in support of the motion with Louie rebutting it and with the two speakers each giving articulate and insightful speeches.
They were up against school teams from across the country tackling topics including rivalry, cheating, single-sex schools and Ofsted – and earned an impressive double success by taking the runner-up spot while Lucas was named as the event’s best chairperson.
Supporting the talented trio throughout their preparations for the competition was public speaking and debating lead teacher Rowan Martin.
Head teacher Lorna Lawson congratulated St John Ogilvie’s “brilliant team” and said: “It’s a fantastic achievement in what was a very tough competition – all the speakers performed to an amazingly high standard and the audience and judges all thoroughly enjoyed the boys’ debate.
“We’d like to thank Rotary for all their support in getting us down there and look forward to taking part again in the future, and we’d also like to thank the parents of the pupils who supported their children and us as a school all the way to Norwich.”
Louie, Matthew and Lucas had a host of trophies to show to fellow pupils following their finals success.
St John Ogilvie pupils will be continuing their public speaking challenges by taking part in the Hamilton schools’ Morrison Cup contest in November.
It’s a fantastic achievement – all speakers performed to an amazingly high standard