RGS Debaters Triumph Once Again
Kasia Czyrko and Katy Marsh have triumphed again – reaching the Grand Final of their second national Debating competition in seven days.
Katy and Kasia both started debating at RGS Worcester in Year Seven, learning their trade through early debates and activities in the Junior Society. By Year Ten, they were ready to take on the world (quite literally!) in the International Competition for Young Debaters at the Cambridge Union. Only forty four teams were invited to the Finals Day and this included teams not just from the UK, but the champions from countries such as Greece, Canada, India and the Netherlands. Kasia and Katy were magnificent and RGS Worcester had their best day ever at ICYD, coming an amazing tenth overall and fourth amongst the English teams.
Now in the Sixth Form, Katy and Kasia, ‘RGS Worcester MC’ to give them their team name, have continued with this success. As Lower Sixth Form students debating primarily against Upper Sixth students, they reached the novice finals at both Warwick and Nottingham Schools competitions last year. This year, they have so far taken part in two national competitions, at Birmingham and Warwick, and each time, they have reached the Grand Final. At Birmingham on Sunday 14 November amongst 48 teams, they came second in the table to reach the final. Last weekend on Saturday 21 November, they faced even stiffer competition. This time, they were up against 56 teams, including public schools like St Paul’s Girls’ School (SPGS) and Wellington College, but also international teams from the Philippines. In the end, the girls prevailed again, coming third in the competition to reach their second Grand Final in a week.
The finals motion was hard. They were given this information: ‘You live in a country that issues a compulsory subject aptitude test. You receive the best scores in your country in science and maths and are predicted to go on to be one of the greatest scientists of your generation. You are also a talented artist and your true passion lies in art.’ After four debates already, and at 7.30pm in the evening, they then had 15 minutes to prepare to oppose the motion: ‘This house would pursue a career in science’. Kasia and Katy were fantastic and, although they were eventually beaten by SPGS, they have set themselves up well for future success.
Miss Jane Waller
Head of History & Politics, Head of Debating