On Tuesday 28 January RSD’s Debating Team travelled to Belfast High School for the second round of the prestigious Northern Ireland Schools’ Debating Competition. Once again Catherine Boyd (Year 14) and Matthew McNeill (Year 12) faced strong opponents in Belfast High School, who had been tipped as possible finalists. Once again they rose to the challenge, Belfast High put forward a strong team, hoping to continue on from previous recent successes. In an impassioned but good natured debate, we proposed the motion that “This House believes that Citizens’ Assemblies would give us better decisions than a restored Stormont Assembly”. The judge scored RSD especially highly on Argument and Teamwork, and declared us the victors by a narrow margin. We now go through to the next round of the competition and will soon learn the identity of our next opponents.

The Debating Society will not rest on its laurels- next Thursday we will be sending two teams to The Royal and Prior School in Raphoe to compete in the annual Royal Schools’ 1608 Debate. Hopefully RSD’s winning streak will continue!