Adam Stuart Debating Prize Final
After weeks of fierce competition the Year 12 Adam Stuart Debating Competition culminated in a nail-biting final contested by the remaining two teams.
Team JEF emerging as eventual winners, pipping rivals Debaterminators at the final post after debating the motion This House would stop the development of ever more powerful AI technology.
Held at the Beardwood theatre in front of a judging panel of three members of teaching staff and an audience of fellow pupils and families, the debate consisted of three speeches by each team, two longer speeches with time for Points of Information from the other team and a shorter final speech summarising their key arguments. Questions from the floor were also taken.
The teams in the final were JEF, made up of Janaii, Ellen and Fred, and the Debaterminators, consisting of Alex, Xanthe and Ned.
James Hope, Teacher of English, said: “With a thought-provoking motion and two exceptionally talented teams competing, this year’s Final of the Adam Stuart Prize had the potential to be a classic, and it didn’t disappoint: both teams put forward a range of arguments in intelligent and eloquent style, engaging with many of the most complex issues surrounding AI development, and there were some excellent exchanges during the debate, including some very tough questions from the audience!
Overall, the judges felt JEF showed a little more dynamism in the delivery of their speeches, but all the speakers contributed to a highly enjoyable evening in what was a fitting tribute to the art of political debate on election night – very well done to everyone involved!”
The Adam Stuart Prize for Lively Political Debate was created in the memory of the late Adam Stuart, a former student at Colfe’s who was known as a passionate and opinionated debater.
