By Luca, 12B

On Saturday, 14 February saw two Sutton Grammar students compete in the London South Cambridge Schools Debating Competition - an excruciating nine-hour competition featuring four debates with other schools. Preparations for the big day were impeded by one of the team members leaving their shoes at school the day before and getting home at 9:30 PM, but as we strolled through the gates of Ibstock Place, accompanied by Mr Green as our manager, it was impossible to not feel the palpable sense of excitement that hung in the crisp, winter air. 

Following a considerable delay in which we waited for all eight of St Paul’s teams to be chauffeured in, the debating began. They covered a range of topics, from marriage rates in the West, to reality TV shows and to the ethics of anti-ageing drugs. SGS’s Year 12 debutees put in a respectable if not mixed performance - ranging from the highs of beating Wilson’s and Tiffin to the lows of coming 4th in the 2nd debate having seen all our arguments get taken by the first two speakers. 6:00 PM saw the ‘break’ - in which the highest-performing teams are announced - and unfortunately SGS did not feature (although neither did Wilson’s, so at least there’s that). 

Despite not breaking, the event was incredibly educative; the debates had a real emphasis on substance over style, and I felt we learned a great deal about how to structure and explain an argument throughout the day. A big thanks to Mr Green, who arranged this opportunity and coached us as the day went on. He also rearranged his Valentine's Day plans to make it, which is true dedication in my book.