Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, chaired a debate at St. Dominic’s High School for Girls on Thursday.
Pupils from St. Dominic’s High School, Adams Grammar School, St. Peters C of E School and Thomas Telford School were put into four teams.
The teams debated the topics ‘This House believes that FIFA is not fit for purpose and should be disbanded’ and ‘This House believes that energy supplies for the UK will run out unless “fracking” becomes an integral strategy to manage the energy crisis.’
Adams Grammar School won one of the debates, in favour of Fifa’s abolition, and Thomas Telford School won the other, in favour of fracking,
It was the fourth year running that Gavin had chaired the debate, which is designed to help students learn how to be effective speakers, use language in a fluent and clear manner and develop critical thinking skills.
On the debating competition, Gavin said: “I felt very honoured to be asked to chair this debate for a fourth year. Debating is a wonderful way for students to develop their reasoning, verbal and presentation skills, all of which can prove extremely useful in later life.
“I greatly enjoyed watching the four teams in action and was extremely impressed by their debating skills. Even though there could only be two winners, all the participants did an incredible job arguing their respective positions.”
St. Dominic’s High School for Girls is a leading independent school in Staffordshire for girls aged from 3 to 18.
The school has been in operation since 1920 and continues to deliver a ‘superior education’ to young ladies from across three counties.