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Debating and Public Speaking

We have a long and proud history of debating and public speaking. Across the College there are many opportunities for the development of the skills required.

An enthusiastic group of student leaders also support and encourage their peers to become involved and we enjoy great involvement from our ex-students who return as coaches and mentors, as well as from parents and staff.

The Primary Years hold an annual public speaking competition for students in Years 1-5 as part of the English program.

Our aim is to give all children the experience of preparing a short talk on a selected topic and presenting it to an audience.

In Years 6-12 public speaking opportunities take place across a range of competitions.

The College debating activities are spread across a range of competitions, workshops and social debating within each Year group from Years 5 to Year 12.

They include:

  • The Archdale Competition for Years 7 to 12, in which 20 independent girls’ schools compete
  • AHIGS (Association of Heads of Independent Girls’ Schools NSW Inc) Festival of Speech
  • Catholic Schools’ Debating competition (CSDA)
  • Catholic Schools’ Speaking competition
  • Junior Legacy Speaking competition
  • Senior Plain English Speaking competition
  • Rostrum Voice of Youth Competition.

The Middle and Senior Years students are involved in social debating with a range of other schools, while the Primary Years and Middle Years students debate some of our local schools.

Debating and Public Speaking is a thriving co-curricular activity which develops valuable skills for life.

Mock Trial

Students in Years 11 and 12 continue to participate successfully in this Sydney-based competition which sees teams of students prepare a range of cases for a mock court trial. Every three weeks the team receives a case to which they are assigned the role of Prosecution or Defence. They work with a solicitor to research and prepare their cases.