A STUDENT at a Whitley school competed in the second edition of a unique virtual debate which drew an audience of more than 15,000 pupils, teachers and parents from across the globe.
OneSchool Global Reading’s Brody Taylor, Year 11, was joined by peers from other schools in the network as they took part in The Great Debate, arguing about issues such as whether Artificial Intelligence is a threat to human potential and creativity.
For the second round, participants explored whether students who fail assessments should be allowed to retake them. The event was broadcast virtually across OneSchool Global’s network of 120 schools, with campuses in the USA, Australia, France and Italy all tuning in.
Brody secured his place on one of the final teams after impressing in regional and national hustings, receiving praise from judges for his effective debating style. He said he enjoyed the event and getting the opportunity to work with and learn from his peers across the globe.
Speaking of his performance at the global debate, Emily Kimber, campus principal at OneSchool Global’s Reading Campus, said: “We are extremely proud of Brody for showcasing his excellent debating and critical thinking skills on a global stage and he represented our Reading Campus so brilliantly. Thinking on your feet under pressure is an invaluable skill and our campus is full of admiration for Brody’s articulate and convincing performance in front of an audience of thousands.”
The first Great Debate was organised last year to give students the opportunity to work with fellow students across the world and to help them boost their collaborative skills and public speaking abilities.
Kimberley Hutton, OneSchool Global’s regional principal for Reading, said: “The success of the first edition of the Great Debate last year showed us that our students are eager to showcase their debating talents, and we are so pleased with the excellent contributions made by all students, including Brody Taylor from our Reading campus.
“At OneSchool Global, we empower our students with the skills to drive forward their own learning through our self-directed approach to education. Our regional, national and international debates offer students the opportunity to put these skills into practice, working with students from across the world to develop their own arguments.
“The high-quality debating on show from our students is also a testament to the excellent work of our teachers whose guidance and support made the event a success.”
