This was an outstanding set of Socratic Club sessions to close out our Summer term as we put the UK General Election (and the results) at the centre of our discussions and debate. Very well done to all those in our Junior and Senior groups.
We began by focussing on the key skills of Style and Tone and refreshing the points of how to score/maximise our success at debating competitions.
Our newsround took in: a new PM in Sir Keir Starmer, the Euros, the Presidential TV debate, the French elections, Wimbledon, the War in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Our focus on the UK General Election examined voter turnout, voter share, the situation across the UK, with particular attention to Scotland and the SNP. We looked at how the Labour party and Liberal Democrats successfully concentrated their vote in constituencies across the country. We also took in the rise of Reform and the impact of First Past the Post in contrast to Proportional Representation.
With voter turnout at just 60% and almost as low as in 2001 we debated the motion: ‘Should voting be made compulsory?’
This was rejected in the Junior Group and in the Senior Group by 86% at the second telling. Freedom of choice and the right to note vote was seen as just as important as the right to vote in a true democracy.
In the second half of each session we turned to US Politics and asked whether there should be an upper age limit to Presidential office (or indeed the role of PM in the UK)?
Voting moved to a via media of a cognitive test rather than age with 71% in favour.
In the Junior session we also examined various topics including:
·      Should all retail companies adopt the M&S idea of a repairs service?
·      Should History be a compulsory subject at school?Are books better than movies?
·      Should Tata Steel be retained/preserved to keep the UKs steel industry going?
Overall we saw superb argumentation and debating throughout – well done all!
Looking forward to catching up after the summer break. Â
Socratic Club Autumn Term Dates via ZOOM
(Junior group at 11 am & Senior Group at 4 pm):
Sunday, 8 September
Sunday, 22 SeptemberÂ
Sunday, 13 October
Sunday, 3 November - US Election Special - Junior Group & Senior Group TBC
Sunday, 17 November
Sunday, 1st DecemberÂ
Sunday, 15th DecemberÂ
Socratic Club Summer Term Workshops & Events:
Sunday, 29 September - Socratic Club Workshop - Junior Group & Senior Group - 11 am
Saturday 5/Sunday 6 October - Museum Tour TBC
Saturday 7th December/Sunday 8th December - Autumn Debating Competition & Certification - TBC
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