Two senior debating teams headed up to Ardvreck on Tuesday afternoon to take part in the annual event for all Scottish prep schools. Cargilfield has a fine tradition of debating and so we have been regular winners of the cup in recent years but the great joy of debating is that the skills required are many and complex: judging does have a degree of subjectivity and success takes many different forms.
Shriyaa, Wolfie, Hugh and Honour were selected as our two pairs and both teams had prepared the initial motion: 'This House would ban cosmetic surgery'. Lively debating followed - on a topic that doesn't perhaps sit easily with 12 and 13 year olds - and their performances were judged by debating coaches and senior debaters from Morrison's Academy and Glenalmond College.

The two Cargilfield teams qualified for the Plate Final and, while we enjoyed a sumptuous Ardvreck tea, the teams had 30 minutes to prepare the second motion: 'This House would ban advertising aimed at children'. By this point debating juices were flowing and our teams made up for any lack of preparation with assertive arguments and challenging points of information for the opposition: indeed, at one point, the two Cargilfield teams were going for each other with no holds barred.

Well done to both teams for acquitting themselves well but especially to Wolfie and Shriyaa (our senior student debater and Secretary.