Burnley College students shine at Oxford Union schools' debating competition
Two talented young debaters have made their mark on the Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition, achieving top ten finishes in the Novice Speakers’ category at Finals Day.
Burnley College students Amarah Khan (16) currently studying A Levels in psychology, English Literature and politics, and Logan Houston (17) currently studying A Levels in history, politics and maths, faced several fierce rounds of debate at the historic Oxford Union, triumphing against determined teams from around the globe.
This event brings together the best international youth debating talent for the largest competition of its kind worldwide, with the aim of making the art of competitive debate accessible to all.
This year’s success marks the second time that a Burnley College team has earned a place in the prestigious State Schools’ Final, with Amarah and Logan delivering eloquent and enthusiastic speeches that put the seasoned teams they were up against through their paces.
They argued persuasively on a wide variety of complex topics - from the current European geopolitical landscape to the value of resilient storytelling for authors from marginalised communities.
Holly Williams, A Level tutor at Burnley College, commended the students’ ability to rise to such a momentous challenge:
“Amarah and Logan argued incredibly well throughout the competition, working together to produce excellent speeches.
“We’re immensely proud of them for ranking so highly - we even had organisers and participants from other schools taking the time to congratulate them on the quality of their debates throughout the day.
“Debating is one of the most beneficial enrichment activities we run. It massively improves our students’ confidence, empathy and critical thinking skills - setting them up for success in all subjects.”