During the first semester, twenty SCBC students in Years 7, 8, 9, and 10 actively participated in the Western Australian Debating League (WADL) as part of the Gifted and Talented program. These students, led by Mrs Still and Mr Norris, underwent engaging and rigorous training sessions to prepare themselves for the debates held off-campus at All Saints’ College.

In these training sessions, the students received comprehensive instruction on the fundamentals of debating, including constructing solid cases and mastering the art of effective rebuttals. Various collaborative speaking games were organised to make the learning process enjoyable and interactive, enabling the students to practice public speaking and enhance their quick-thinking abilities. The program aims to foster critical thinking skills among the GATE students and improve their capacity to communicate logical arguments. This year, some topics covered included Australian politics, autonomous weapons, and sustainability education.

Our students showcased their debating prowess by engaging in competitions against several schools in Perth, achieving notable victories over Perth Modern and Aquinas College. The adjudicators provided valuable feedback, enabling the teams to refine their public speaking skills. We thank Mr Keagan Holmes for his exceptional organisation of the debating events and future challenges within the GATE extension program.