The international debating event is known for being amongst the most competitive tournaments in the world, with only a fraction of teams being invited to spend the day competing against the best schools debating teams in the world. Following their performance at the UK’s South East qualifying event earlier in the year Sophia, Cerys, Zohha and Matilda (all Year 12) were invited to represent the region on the 16th March. 

Following an early start and a minibus ride to the historic Cambridge Union, the students were taken on a tour of some of Cambridge’s colleges before beginning their debates for the day. 

British Parliamentary Debating involves four teams; each consisting of two speakers. Two teams argue for a motion and two against; teams are then ranked 1st to 4th. Teams are only given 15 minutes to prepare for their debate after the motion and their position is announced. The first motion was "This house believes that THBT public grants for higher education should be primarily used for access scholarships, rather than to improve facilities and teaching". Arguing in opposition, Zohha and Tilly made a compelling case about the financial stability ensured by effective facilities. 

The second motion was "This house believes that states should adopt the Multicultural Model of Integrating Immigrants rather than the Assimilationist Model". Cerys and Sophia were speaking in proposition and provided insightful arguments for the benefits of multiculturalism. They took second place in a very high calibre room.  

Subsequent debates were on the motions "This house would nationalise all research into artificial general intelligence", for which Zohha and Tilly took a second place, and "This house opposes the romanticisation of sacrifice"

After a full day of debating, both teams had performed very well against the best speakers in the world.