Exceptional Results for RGS Worcester at Oxford Schools Regional Debate

RGS Worcester enjoyed an evening of exceptional success at the Oxford Schools Regional Debate, hosted at King Edward VI Girls’ School in Handsworth, with students delivering a series of strong performances against teams from across the region.

The highlight of the evening came from Upper Sixth students Isabelle Jones and Joseph Kington, who successfully “broke” (qualified) into the prestigious Oxford Schools Final. This significant achievement places them among the top young debaters in the country, with the Final set to take place on Saturday 14 March.

The depth of talent within the RGS Debating Society was further demonstrated by a remarkable overall result, with RGS Worcester making up half of the teams in the top six. Club Presidents Upper Sixth students Hannah Agoston and Sasha Penlington secured fifth place, finishing as First Reserves, while Henry De Bono and Gabby Hailwood, competing in their first competition together, finished closely behind in sixth place as Second Reserves.

Lower Sixth students Zac Johnson and Toby Prendergast also represented the School with distinction, debating competitively throughout the evening and finishing just short of the qualification threshold against strong opposition.

The Debating Society now looks ahead to its next challenge, with six Lower Sixth pairs travelling to the Nottingham Schools Debate on Saturday 7 February. They will aim to build on this success and continue the School’s strong presence on the debating circuit.

Mr A Pardoe‑Davies, Teacher of History and Head of Debating