ESU debating workshop

Students from Bassingbourn Village College took to the floor this week to develop their oracy skills.

Public speaking and debating were the subjects of a special workshop run at the college by James Reeve, an expert from the English Speaking Union.

The ESU awarded the college a bursary for the workshop having been impressed by the BVC team’s efforts in their first ESU competition last year. The event also attracted students from other schools in the Anglian Learning trust.

10 BVC youngsters from years 10 and 11 took part in the workshop, which ended in teams debating two topics – “This house would ban all research and development of morality-enhancing drugs” and “This house would not make first contact with uncontacted human populations”.

Principal Duncan Cooper said: “We are obviously very proud of the achievements of our debating team – and really pleased to see more and more of our students showing an interest in debating and public speaking.

“Oracy skills are so important in many aspects of our lives and our students are very fortunate to be able to access such skills thanks to funding from the English Speaking Union.”