Debating has a long and distinguished history at Woodbridge, the Society being as old as the School, and enjoying particular success during under the direction of Mr Mark Mitchels, a distinguished English teacher at Woodbridge from 1968 until 2007. During this time the Society was an integral part of the General Studies programme and it drew in students from across all the School’s age groups.

Today, the Society forms an integral pillar of the Citizenship Programme and promotes the concept that involvement in current affairs is vital to their future, and the world’s.

The Debating Committee

Membership of the fifteen-strong Debating Committee is drawn mainly from the Sixth Form, and the Committee decide which debates will run in the Science Lecture Theatre. Debates themselves are open to the whole School, though the Sixth Form are especially urged to attend, to show an interest in, and an engagement with current affairs which they can place on their UCAS form. Membership of the Committee can be extended to students not in the Sixth Form, but priority goes to Years 12 & 13.

The Debating Committee is led by the Chairman, with able support from the Vice Chairman and Secretary, all elected by Sixth Form secret ballot. They often chair debates or speak in them, but of course all Sixth Formers are encouraged to participate, as are students from the years below.

The debating squad to face other schools is drawn from the Sixth Form only. Many of the squad also sit on the Committee which decides internal debates, though not all will able to due to other commitments.

Squad members must have a serious interest in current affairs, be quick-thinking and well informed, and they must enjoy public speaking and be able to hold an audience. Usually the squad contains 14 debaters, and this year it will enter four competitions (usually teams are four-member).

The School gives a really high priority to Debating, because debates are one of the key ways in which all schools promote active citizenship, and in debates our students always give a one hundred per cent effort and therefore they make us proud. The quality of opposition they face is also, always, outstanding.