The Mayor of Malmesbury, Cllr Robert Hastings, is collaborating with The English-Speaking Union, a national and international charity, to encourage students from Malmesbury schools to hone their debating and oracy skills ready to take part next year in a local debating competition.
Teachers from The Malmesbury School, St Joseph’s RC Primary School and Malmesbury CE Primary School took part in an initial training session (September 29) entitled ‘Discover the Power of Debate’.
The training session was held in the Malmesbury Town Hall and delivered by Meriel Lewis, an oracy leader with the ESU. It equipped teachers, volunteer students from The Dyson Institute of and The Malmesbury School sixth form on how to use speaking, listening and debating skills in everyday school practice.
Participants began to learn how to identify key oracy skills, understand the roles and rules of a Mace Debate, apply ESU judging criteria and how to establish a debate club in their school.*
Later this term, pupils in Years 5 and 6 from St Joseph’s RC Primary and Malmesbury CE Primary schools and Year 9 students from Malmesbury School, supported by volunteer James Dyson Institute students and 6th Form Students, will take part in ESU facilitated half day ‘Discover Your Voice’ workshops which will be held in their respective schools.
The schools will then have a period to practice with the pupils through their own debate clubs and select a team to take part in the Mayor’s Award for Debating Competition to be held in the Town Hall in March next year. There will be two awards, one for primary pupils (Yr 6) and one for secondary pupils (Yr 9). Parents of the children taking part in the final, headteachers, governors, councillors and local dignitaries and donors to this project will be invited to celebrate the achievements of the young people taking part.
The Headteacher of Malmesbury School, Brett Jouny said: “Malmesbury School is delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the Mayor’s Debate and Oracy programme. As a school we highly value opportunities for our students to enhance their public speaking skills and are passionate about taking a leading role in our wider community.”
Nick Morrell, the headteacher of St Joseph’s School on Holloway Hill, said: “We are thrilled to have been invited to take part in the Mayor’s flagship Debate & Oracy programme. With expert coaching from the ESU, children at St. Joseph’s will learn to express their ideas clearly, listen to others, ask questions and participate confidently in discussions. By explaining why they think something, they will develop the ability to discuss different perspectives, construct arguments and engage thoughtfully with others – skills that have long been considered central to a broad education.”
Cllr Robert Hastings committed to this project when he was elected as the Mayor of Malmesbury in May. He said:
“Together with the Mayoress I have visited all three schools and we are all very excited about the prospect of working together as a group of schools and agree that good communication and being able to advocate for oneself are important life skills that can enhance pupils’ future success. This can be both in the workplace and personally as it helps with improving well-being through increasing confidence in speaking in public and communication in general.
“To bring this about we have raised funds from James Dyson Foundation, the Malmesbury League of Friends, Malmesbury Area Board and the Warden and Freeman of Malmesbury to commission the ESU whose mission is to ‘equip young people with the communication skills they need to thrive and build a more collaborative world.’”
Article from Scott Media
