Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Schools Competitions Handbook available for download

The handbook for this year's Schools Mace and Schools Public Speaking Competition can now be downloaded from the schools section.

Election for the England rep on Worlds Council

The election for this year's England Representative on the World Universities Debating Council will take place at the ESU John Smith Memorial Mace for England at Dartmouth House on Friday 25 November. Read more...

Saturday, October 08, 2005

England Schools Debating Team Trials take place at Dartmouth House

The England Schools Debating Team Trial took place today at Dartmouth House, the ESU's HQ in London. Having received an exceptionally large number of applications, 54 students were invited to trial, where they all debated three times in the 3-on-3 format used at World Schools. Everyone spoke in each of the three different positions in the side, as well as delivering a summation. Students also submitted an outline case prepared in advance and undertook a general knowledge test in the course of a rather gruelling day.

Following a difficult and lengthy selection meeting, the following students have been chosen to form a development group who will meet for training several times in the next three months or so. This group will then take part in a second trials day at which the England team of four students for Cardiff Worlds 2006 will be chosen.

Elizabeth Bauer
Antonia Burrows
Jack Devlin
Tom Evans
Max Kasriel
Katie Kettle
James MacFarlane
Charlotte Norris
Giles Robertson
Kitson Symes
Charlotte Thomas
Richard Trainor

Congratulations to all twelve students in the development group, and many thanks to all those, students and selectors, who put so much time and energy into making trials day a success this year.

Friday, October 07, 2005

ESU British Debate Squad in Japan

Four students from British universities (Bilal Mahmood, Nottingham; Jonathan Bailey, Oxford; Lauma Skruzmane, Cambridge; and Shauna Gillan, Cambridge) are currently touring Japan carrying out demonstration debates and giving workshops, accomanied by James Probert from the ESU Centre for Speech and Debate.
The squad has so far taken part in events in Osaka and Kyoto and is now preparing for the National Japanese Debating Championships at the Olympic Centre in Tokyo, run by the English-Speaking Union of Japan.
Two members of the group have already found fame after being interviewed by a TV crew from a Japanese national network whilst visiting the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto.
This year's national ESU tournament in Tokyo will be the largest ever, with 32 teams from 27 Japanese universities taking part. As part of their prize the winners will receive a trip to London in summer 2006.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

John Smith Mace: England Registration

The registration form for the England leg of this year's John Smith Mace is now available for download.