Congratulations to Cymoedd’s A Level learners at Debating Competition

Coleg y Cymoedd are delighted with the success of members of its Debating Society who secured ‘Runners up’ position at a recent competition, narrowly losing out to the Debating Team from Atlantic College.

Cymoedd’s newly formed Debating Society was set up within the A Level Centre, in October this year, with four of the learners receiving training from a debating expert from Cardiff’s Sixth Form College. The four learners, keen to grow the ‘Society’ trained up further learners and now boasts almost 20 members.

Three members of the Society Lilia Simonov (16) Rebecca Mardon, (16) and Cerys Baker (16) are all studying A Levels at Coleg y Cymoedd and were keen to represent the college in their first competition.  The competition was part of the ESU (English Speaking Union), South Wales Branch, where they competed against schools and college teams from across South Wales.

The learners made it through two rounds of the competition before facing Atlantic College in the finals – a brilliant achievement at their first competition. The debating topics were topical and included “the repatriation of cultural artefacts” and the “removal of controversial monuments”. The talented learners spoke with clarity and a strength of argument, demonstrating an awareness of current affairs to effectively debate the topic.

Speaking after the competition Lilia representing Cymoedd’s team said” We have really enjoyed setting up the Debating Society and representing the college at our first competition. We’ve gained valuable oratory skills over the past few months which will improve our public speaking. We’ll share our experiences with other learners and hopefully encourage them to join the society”.

Congratulating the learners, Holly Richards, Lecturer at the A Level Centre said “I am extremely proud of what the learners have achieved in such a short space of time. They have shown great initiative in setting up the society and it continues to grow from strength to strength.

Watching them in action during the debating rounds you would never believe they are novice debaters. I am really excited to see how this society develops further. They done so well to finish Runners Up in their first competition”.

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