TWO Ysgol Penglais school pupils have beaten off competition from a Carmarthenshire school to be crowned Welsh Schools Debating Champions.

Year 13 pupils Joseff Jones and Karl Piotrowicz had to debate the opposition to the motion ‘this House believes that targeting areas with a high civilian population is a justifiable military strategy’, against a debating team from Amman Valley on 14 December.

Head of sixth form at Ysgol Penglais, Kate Carden-Brown said the debating society has gone from strength to strength over recent years.

There are now two groups that meet weekly during a lunch break to lock horns over all types of issues both within and beyond the curriculum.

She added that there have been occasions where there has not been enough room for everyone to sit down for the debates as they are so well attended.

“Debating has given our students the power to persuade, influence and inspire others. It deepens their knowledge of controversial issues and world affairs and makes them better able to appreciate both sides of an argument,” she said.

“The ethos of the sixth form is far more open and collaborative as a result of the groups and students enjoy the intellectual challenge and making their voices heard. They are able to challenge and be challenged and are able to meet the demands of A-level far more successfully as a result.”

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