MSM hosts the Leeds Salon Debating Competition

Each year the Leeds Salon hosts debating competitions across the city using a challenging format usually reserved for sixth form students, with Mount St Mary’s participating since 2016.

On Wednesday 8th February Mount St Mary’s hosted one of the qualifying rounds for the competition, with our beautiful library providing the backdrop to welcome visiting judges and our competition UTC.

Arguing for the motion “In the digital age, we should not expect our online activities to remain private”, Amelia Uminska and Sedona Mechialle represented MSM in the first round. Both teams displayed excellent skill and research, but MSM were narrowly beaten in this round.

In the second round Naemi Asmerom and Miracle Bolingo put in an exceptional display arguing against the motion “Britain should pay reparations for its colonial past”, with their subject knowledge shining through, especially during interrogation from the judges. This gave them the upper hand and they were declared winners of the second round.

Overall, Mount St Mary’s were declared winners by the judges, with Naemi winning the award for Best Speaker for her outstanding performance, sending MSM through to the final.

On Wednesday 29th March, Miss Evans and Mr Hinchley took the students to the Royal Armouries to participate in the grand final. In the semi-final, Solane Pauni and Aiswarya Roy argued for the motion “Unhealthy lifestyles are not the business of government” against St Mary’s Menston. Although they displayed excellent resilience and ability, St Mary’s Menston were declared the winners.

All the students were participating in their first external debating competition and should be incredibly proud of what they achieved, with much to take away from the experience.

Well done MSM!