Ermysted's Debating Team News
THE EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT
Ermysted’s Debating team of ten Year 13s represented Yorkshire and Humberside in the national finals of the European Youth Parliament debating competition at the weekend. Held over four days at Durham University’s Hatfield College, the competition featured the 14 regional winners, from as far afield as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The debating was intense, featuring 11 separate debates on the Saturday, and 14 in total, in which teams were expected to show in-depth knowledge on a variety of difficult topics, all of them relating to Europe. The Ermysted’s team spoke forcefully on their challenging given topic: “On the question of economic and monetary policy, should Central and Eastern member states adopt a policy of ‘Euro-ization’ in order to best avoid domestic cutbacks.” Their main speaker, Elliot Gray-Clough, spoke impressively without notes and drew the response of “a perfectly timed and engaging speech” from the Chairman. The other teams then challenged the points made by EGS, after which EGS summariser Ewan Bruce had the chance to demolish their arguments, which he did in fine style. Ermysted’s were on a roll!
This was a chance to debate against the top debaters and public speakers in the country, but it was also a challenge of stamina, and of sheer guts, as the days began at 6.30 and went on until eleven at night. It was also a chance for our students to familiarise themselves with Durham University, one of the top universities in the UK, and one which many Ermysted’s boys go on to attend.
Debates were held in the impressive Durham Union, in a hot and passionate atmosphere. By the Sunday morning, teams were wilting, and only the toughest competitors rose to the occasion, among them Ermysted’s. The final debate was held entirely in French, and the Ermysted’s boys excelled, holding the floor and demolishing opposition with a series of cogently-argued interruptions. It seemed as if they were in with a chance of winning, at the first time of entering.
However, the judges surprised everyone by selecting the teams from Surrey and Oxfordshire to represent the UK in the European finals. These are held over ten days at two destinations: Tromso in Norway and Helsinki in Finland. Ermysted’s boys shook off their disappointment and congratulated the winners. Everyone present was exhausted by the experience, but all can take comfort in the knowledge that they gave of their best. The deputy heads of two of the other competing schools congratulated them on their performances. The boys, their parents, the school and Craven can be proud of them.
The photo shows the EGS team: Mitchell Hargreaves, Toby Coughlin, Rory Ellwood, Jonny Newhouse, Elliot Gray-Clough, Graham Richardson, Seumas Cram, Matthew Benton, Ewan Bruce and Charles Millman.