Debating Competition - St Philip's vs Falkner House - 17th June 2025

This was an excellent debating competition between Falkner House Girls’ School and St Philip’s School. 

The quality of contributions and summary speaking from each team in addition to wider points and POIs from the floor were tremendously impressive.

We looked at two motions:

‘This House believes that English is more important than Mathematics’; &

‘This House believes that AI should be banned in education’.

The motions divided opinion in the voting at both tellings (in each debate).

It was argued that Mathematics functions as a universal language – across communities and cultures. Whilst others put the case for language, indeed that the very debate we were having could not have taken place without English. From education to business, from travel to cultural pursuits, each school provided stories, facts and rhetorical questions to support their points. This continued in the second debate, with extensive use of Pathos, Logos and Ethos. It was wonderful to see the skills we have worked on being implemented in the argumentation displayed. AI was seen as a key component of the future, whilst those against felt that it potentially inhibited learning.

St Philip’s performed extremely well with a superb array of POIs and some excellent opening speeches. Falkner House held the day with some outstanding summary speaking, POIs and rebuttal in the middle of both debates. Both sides worked well in a team format and listened respectfully and with great maturity – they belied their years.  

Very well done to all for participating to such a high standard and we very much look forward to the rematch in due course.