Haileybury in National Debating Competition

On Tuesday (27 November) the Haileybury team of Henry Firth (U6, K) and Naomi Shammas (V, C) won their first round tie in the ESU Schools’ Mace, the biggest national debating competition. They proposed that ‘This House would ban public sector workers from wearing religious symbols’. They argued that since there is no option other than to use the public sector, it must be as open and accessible as possible, especially to vulnerable groups. They qualified along with The Bishops’ Stortford High School and are looking forward to their second round in the new year.

Special mention should go to Rachel Buckley-Taylor (U6, C) and Harry Phillips (L6, K) who stepped in at the last minute for a school who pulled out. They came third in the round, despite having less than a day’s preparation.