News

On Wednesday 15th July, Kenilworth School hosted its Year 7 KMAT Great Debate Tournament – and what an afternoon it was! With arguments flying, ideas colliding and confidence growing with every round, our newest debaters proved that Year 7 has no shortage of talent.

In the lead-up to the event, English teachers had introduced every student to the debate format in lessons. But there's a world of difference between practising in the familiarity of the classroom and stepping into the spotlight to face an opponent from another form while your classmates cheer you on. As students gathered in the main hall, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement... and, understandably, a few nerves.

The competition saw forms battling it out within their year thirds, with form tutors selecting representatives in the weeks beforehand. Every student had been given the four debate topics as a homework task and encouraged to prepare arguments for both sides. The enthusiasm extended well beyond school too. One parent told us:

"The topics have definitely sparked his interest! We've made cards for each of the arguments and he's excited to see which side he might end up debating."

That preparation was obvious from the very first round. Nervous anticipation quickly transformed into focused excitement as classmates gathered around their representatives, sharing last-minute ideas and words of encouragement. The room was alive with academic energy, and it was clear our Year 7 students were ready for the challenge.

Our judges – a fantastic team of students from Years 9 through to 12 – watched on with wry smiles as the younger competitors threw themselves into each debate with confidence, determination and plenty of passion.

As the rounds unfolded, the support from each form was wonderful to see. Every point scored was celebrated, every close result met with encouragement, and every speaker applauded for having the courage to step forward. It was a brilliant reminder that success at school comes in many forms. For students whose strengths lie in speaking, thinking on their feet and building persuasive arguments, this was their moment to shine.

Even more importantly, it was a chance for forms to come together. Victories were shared, defeats were handled with maturity, and friendships were strengthened along the way. Competitions like this don't just build debating skills—they build confidence, resilience and teamwork too.

Students were told they'd have to wait until Friday's leavers' assembly to discover the winning form...

Thankfully, you don't have to!

1st Place – 7E – 46 competition points (winning on debate points difference)

2nd Place – 7G – 46 competition points

3rd Place – 7L – 45 competition points

The standard of debating throughout the afternoon was exceptionally high, with several students producing outstanding performances.

From 7E, winning form captain Robin won all three of his debates, while fellow form member Erin also finished the tournament undefeated. Jessica from 7F claimed three victories from three debates, with teammate Seren likewise remaining unbeaten throughout. Harriet from 7G impressed judges with three excellent wins, while Isabelle from 7J also completed the competition undefeated. These are just the tip of the iceberg. If this tournament is anything to go by, Year 7 has some serious debating talent waiting in the wings.

Finally, we'd like to offer our sincere apologies to all parents. We may have just sent your children home significantly better at arguing... and just in time for the summer holidays too. Our bad!

We hope the afternoon has shown the entire cohort just how exciting public speaking can be. The question now is: which of these talented young debaters will go on to represent Kenilworth School in the regional KMAT Great Debate in 2026? We can't wait to find out.