Except Debating Matters was no normal debating competition. In addition to the usual format of putting arguments for and against a motion and taking on challenges from an opposing team, students were subjected to a series of Pop Idol-style questions and put-downs from a panel of judges who scrutinised their debating abilities.
As one of this year's judges, I had the task of being frank with a group of teenagers whose debating skills ranged from very wobbly to a little bit woolly.
But the results spoke for themselves. In the course of the day the students' debating abilities blossomed as they took criticism on the chin and channelled all their energies into refining their skills of presentation and argument.
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