On Friday 11th March 2022, three of our keen debaters took an afternoon trip to The Opera North Centre in Leeds. The event was held by Leeds City Council and an invite was sent to all schools in Leeds. The purpose of the meeting was to allow students to debate with other likeminded students across the city, as well as be given the opportunity to speak to Lindsey Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons. We selected students based on their debating ability; these students had been nominated by their English teachers to take part in the event. Josh Rhodes (year 9), Oliver Reed (year 10) and Priyansh Makwana (year 10) were ready and prepped for the event, joined by Miss Hart.
The event began with students being given the opportunity to ask Lindsey Hoyle. Priyansh began the questioning with a fantastic query: “What can we do as a country to minimize the North/South divide?” The Speaker spoke passionately about strengths of the north and how the youth need to speak up and strive forward in their opinions to ensure that we’re heard.
The next part of the session then focused on debate. The topic title was: “Should all Exams be Scrapped?” Students went back and forth with one another, debating whether they were for or against. Once more, The Farnley Academy students offered lots of opinions, mostly citing that they felt the exam system needed to be scrapped in order to reduce social inequality.
In the closing part of the day, students were able to then cast a vote as to whether they were for, or against, the statement they had been posed. It was a divided camp amongst The Farnley Academy! Two students voted FOR exams being scrapped, and one against… The winning outcome across all schools was AGAINST! Students believed that exams were the only standardized system in place that could truly depict the potential of all students within the country.
The students had a fantastic afternoon and truly demonstrated our core values in their conduct and contributions to the debate. All students felt grateful to have had the opportunity to engage in this event.
I have no doubt that these students will be the leaders of tomorrow!
