Debating – Year 8 ISDA Team Wins Grand Final

For the 7th year in a row, MLC School teams competed in the Independent Schools’ Debating Association (ISDA) Grand Final, which this year was held at Roseville College on Friday 3 June. That’s a big achievement for what is probably the most competitive debating competition in which we participate. Starting with teams from 32 boys and girls schools it’s a real accomplishment to make it to the last two teams in each age division.

Our Year 8 team of Umaiza (Year 8), Anna (Year 8), Elena (Year 8), Amelia (Year 8) and Harriet (Year 8) are no strangers to Grand Finals. Last year, as Year 7 students, they won the Archdale competition with their coach Ella Finlay (2018) shaping the team into a well-trained unit.

The team continued to work very hard in training every week this year and were rewarded with a place in the Grand Final. With Pymble as the opponents our team took the Affirmative side on the topic, “That learning from home should be an option for school students”. Both teams had excellent speakers and it was a lively debate with lots of vigorous rebuttals from both sides. It was a nervous wait as the three-person adjudicator panel left the room to discuss who would win. Celebrations outside of the room could be heard when MLC School was announced the winners. Following the Year 8 win in 2021, it was great to take home the Grand Final trophy again. 

– Andrea Rowe
Oratory Coordinator