Congratulations to 5th Class who won the first round of the Concern Primary School Debating Competition today. Their hard work, dedication, and teamwork shone through as they argued their case with confidence and clarity against a well prepared opposition.
It was a whole class effort with every pupil playing a vital role from research, helping to write compelling arguments, and working together to anticipate and plan for rebuttals. Well done to everyone for contributing to this success.
Thank you to Mrs. O'Donovan and Helen for their guidance and commitment in preparing the team so well. We wish them the very best of luck as they advance to round two.
While winning is exciting, the true value of participating in the Concern Debating competition lies in the incredible skills the children develop. By taking part in this programme, our pupils are:
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Building Confidence: learning to speak publicly and defend a position with conviction, overcoming nervousness and building self-assurance.
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Enhancing Research Skills: They delve deep into complex global issues, teaching them how to find, evaluate, and use credible information effectively.
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Developing Critical Thinking: Debating requires pupils to think on their feet, analyse arguments quickly, and construct logical, coherent responses.
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Improving Communication and Listening: Pupils practise expressing themselves clearly and must listen carefully to the opposing team to formulate effective rebuttals.
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Fostering Global Citizenship: The topics debated, which focus on humanitarian issues, encourage empathy, and a better understanding of our role as global citizens.
