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Robert Gordon’s College debaters in the spotlight

Maura Buchanan and Morag Forbes (both 14) talked their way to the top spot on Wednesday evening, winning the final of the English-Speaking Union (ESU) Scotland Juniors Debating Competition 2011.

The competition, in its 10th year, attracted a record entry of 128 teams this year and the final was held in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Mike Elder, deputy head at the College and in charge of Debating, commented, “This is a significant achievement for our debating team, winning this competition for the first time whilst competing against such tough competition. We have an outstanding group of debaters at both junior and senior level at present, making this a really exciting time for us.”

It’s certainly a busy time for the College’s S3 debaters as Peter Craik and Tomas Sanders (both 15) spoke in the Grand Final of the East of Scotland Debater Competition in St Andrews on Friday evening and Tomas is taking part in the ESU Public Speaking Final on Tuesday in the Playfair Library, Edinburgh. After that, the focus of the 60-strong Debating Club at the school will shift to August when they are looking forward to attending some heats and the final of the World Schools Debating Championships, which will be taking place in Dundee at that time.

Mr Hugh Ouston, head of college added, “This is a great achievement for Maura, Morag and of course their coach, Rebecca Elder (17). Debating is a really interesting and useful extra-curricular activity as it helps pupils to develop excellent communication skills, effective reasoning and invaluable self-confidence”.

Mr Mark McDonald, MSP Scottish National Party, laid a motion before Parliament yesterday (9 June 2011), “Parliament sends its warmest congratulations to the Robert Gordon’s College team of Maura Buchanan and Morag Forbes on their victory and considers it a magnificent achievement for the Robert Gordon’s College team to emerge from such a large field as champions, and also acknowledges the achievement of the teams from Merchiston Castle, Grange Academy and George Watson’s College, which also made it to the final”.

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