European Youth Parliament Debating Competition

Every year Durham Sixth Form Centre enters a team in the annual European Youth Parliament Inter-Schools Debating Competition. This year the North-East Regional final was held at Newcastle United Foundation at St James’ Park in Newcastle.

There were nine debates within the competition, each one involved one school team defending a proposed motion whilst a second team attacked the proposition. Teams give opening and closing speeches, whilst all the teams are able to make interventions during the debate, either supporting or opposing the proposed motion. At the end of the debate a vote is taken involving all the teams taking part.

Each debate is chaired by a team of experienced debaters. They follow the procedures used in the European Parliament and ensure that all the debates are carried out in the appropriate manner. At the end of the day, they decide which two teams are the winners and will progress to the National level of the competition. Teams are judged on team participation, enthusiasm, strength of arguments, coherence and range of arguments, reference to European examples and overall debating style.

The debates this year concerned the subjects of combating rising crime rates in needle spiking, addressing the impact of city breaks on European city infrastructure, the reintegration of ex-cons into the job market, addressing fixed mindsets of toxic masculinity, to mention a few. The Durham Sixth Form Centre team was made up of Jack Clarke, Penny Harrison, Eliza Nicholson, Niamh Kelly, Jacob Stembridge, Emily Rasmussen, William Jackson & Sonny Edmenson who all did a great deal of research, preparation and organisation for the various debates beforehand.

The DSFC team initially supported a motion calling for measures to end drink and needle spiking. Excellent opening and closing speeches were given by Penny and Eliza. The team also participated enthusiastically and skilfully in the other five debates. The debate competition proved to be a useful exercise in developing our debating skills and styles, and in raising our awareness of issues that are of importance across Europe. The competition was an enjoyable day of intellectual argument and a chance to compete with other sixth forms from across the region.

Whilst DSFC did not proceed to the National Finals, the team were commended on their well researched and delivered points, as well as their strong teamwork.