Jesus College, Oxford played host to the inspiring Seren Academy Year 9 National Debating Finals, where talent, skill, and teamwork took centre stage in the bilingual competition. The Seren Academy, an initiative by the Welsh Government, is devoted to nurturing Wales’s most able learners, empowering them to achieve their fullest academic potential and pursue ambitious futures. 445 learners from 89 schools across Wales participated in this year’s competition with 16 teams participating in the final at Oxford University. The teams had enrichment experiences, critical thinking masterclass and the opportunity to showcase their debating prowess. The competition provided opportunities to develop critical thinking skills, public speaking, research, and teamwork, whilst also fostering confidence and the ability to engage in respectful discourse. The Seren Academy National Debating lead, Bethan Jones-Hughes shared her admiration for the event, stating, “Standards were incredibly high, and the judges did an excellent job considering even the smallest details to distinguish between the teams. The Welsh language semi-final was particularly close, with only 9 points between them all! It was truly wonderful to see the confidence in these young people and the respect they showed for each other and the judges.” The debating team winners were:
- National Winner: Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr, Swansea region.
- Debate Shield Winner: Bishop of Llandaff High School, Cardiff region.
- Debate Plate Winner: Brecon High School, Powys.
- National Welsh Language Final: Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr, Swansea.