27th November 2025
Debate Debut Success for Lingfield’s Young Speakers
Lingfield College’s debating team made an incredible debut this week, finishing as runners-up in their very first competition — and securing a place in the District Final this February.
Rishabh (Chair), Xander (Proposer), and Adam (Opposer) took on the challenging motion: “Can AI replace teachers?” Their thoughtful arguments, confident delivery, and well-timed humour impressed the judges, who praised the team for presenting compelling viewpoints from both sides of the debate.
They were narrowly beaten by the Worth Senior Team, but Lingfield’s trio walked away with glowing feedback and a well-earned spot in the next stage of the competition.
A special mention goes to Harry, who attended to cheer the team on (with his Dad) after playing an important role in the preparation process — assisting with research, planning, and refining the speeches.
About Rotary Youth Speaks
Rotary Youth Speaks is a national public-speaking competition designed to help young people grow in confidence, develop their debating abilities, and master the art of persuasive communication.
Teams of three take on the roles of:
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Chairperson
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Speaker
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Vote of Thanks
Participants choose a topic they care about, research it in depth, and craft speeches that inform, entertain, and engage an audience. The experience helps students strengthen public speaking skills, think critically, and present ideas with clarity and conviction.