Debating Win for Bedford School

Published by Bedford Upper School on Thursday 21st of February 2019

On Tuesday 5 February, the Bedford School debating team of Harry Hine (Speaker), Ben Barnes (Chair) and Freddie Pelling (Questioner) won the Ouse Valley Branch Final of the English Speaking Union’s Churchill Public Speaking Competition. The competition, held at Hazeley Academy, featured six strong teams from the Bedford and Milton Keynes area. Bedford School’s Head of English, Nicholas Hopton, said, “Our friends from Northampton High School and Bedford Modern School were particularly excellent, but our boys prepared thoroughly, hit all the judging criteria and showed considerable flair.” Harry’s topic was ‘Is mental illness in school children getting the attention it deserves?’ and he will speak again on this topic when Bedford School represent the branch at the regional final at Magdalene College, Cambridge on Saturday 16 March. This is the second year in succession that the Bedford School team has reached the finals.