Spotlight On: South Hampstead High School’s Debate Hub

At South Hampstead High School – an all-girls school in North London for pupils aged 4 to 18 – we have an outstanding track record in debating and public speaking; two of our students have just been selected for Debate England’s 2024/25 squad, hoping to compete on the world stage in Panama next year, and we were recently recognised as the UK’s best school for pupil voice in The Week’s Independent Schools Guide. From the earliest years at South Hampstead, pupils are encouraged to speak up and speak out, supported by a staff body committed to embedding oracy across and beyond the curriculum. Fundamental to the school’s success is our award-winning Debate Hub – a programme established in 2019 to promote a culture of oracy not just amongst our own pupils, but in the wider community too.

Over the years, South Hampstead’s Debate Hub has provided specialist coaching and competitive debating opportunities to develop the confidence, oracy and argumentation skills of thousands of pupils at well over 100 schools nationwide. As well as providing online resources, video guides, lesson plans, podcasts, debate topics, games packs and workshops, Debate Hub has a team of expert coaches who train and host events – all free of charge for state schools. We run the UK’s largest competition for state primary school pupils and ‘mix and match’ format events, where independent and state school debaters compete together on the same team, facilitating meaningful communication, exchange of ideas and integration. Last year, we had 1,500 entries across all competitions – offering a variety of formats for different ages and abilities – with roughly two-thirds coming from state schools. 

“It was a great experience for our children to do something completely different – to learn new skills and communicate with pupils from very different backgrounds to their own. The atmosphere was buzzing and was a real celebration of all you gain from having different viewpoints and ideas.” – Feedback from a state school teacher

At South Hampstead, we also run a Saturday Sparks programme which offers fun, free weekend booster sessions for local primary school pupils in maths, English and coding. This academic year, we are extending the programme to offer a five-week debating programme for older state school pupils in Years 7 to 9, with an experienced coach who will help pupils progress and prepare for regional and national competitions.

Some of our experienced sixth form debaters visit local primary schools each week to deliver oracy sessions – a mutually beneficial partnership which enables our students to develop their coaching and leadership skills, whilst providing invaluable resources for schools who lack oracy provision. Some of our other debaters are charged with judging and chairing the primary school competitions we host, helping to build their confidence and experience. Local state partner school pupils are also invited to join our Speaker Series evening events to hear from – and put their questions to – high-profile orators from different backgrounds such as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe discussing justice; Mishal Husain on challenging inequality; feminist science writer Angela Saini on unconscious bias; and David Baddiel on antisemitism. 

“Formal education in oracy is uniquely placed to counter the prevalence of echo-chamber thinking, equipping young people with the requisite skills to listen to and challenge other viewpoints, and to express themselves with clarity, eloquence and conviction. Debating encourages pupils to respond with respect, curiosity and an openness of spirit which welcomes diversity of opinion and thought.” - Debate Hub director Michael Hepburn

Oracy education also gives young people the opportunity to discuss complex, topical issues in safe, constructive ways, empowering them to feel part of wider societal discussions. One local state school pupil who attended our Debate Hub sessions subsequently joined our sixth form on a fully funded bursary last September. Following a boroughwide election, she was recently elected as Camden’s Youth MP and now represents the interests of young Londoners, shaping local decision-making and helping to tackle the key issues they face to make positive changes for the borough’s future – a shining example of the power of oracy in shaping morally responsible citizens of the future.

By working in partnership with schools across the UK, we can achieve so much more to help the next generation to think critically, to work collaboratively, to consider other points of view, and to develop the confidence to stand up for what they believe in. We are proud to play a part in that at South Hampstead and see the positive impact that debating and public speaking can have.  

“It was a totally fabulous evening, so full of energy and vitality… our pupils gained so much from it. They left with huge smiles and a great sense of achievement.” – A state school teacher

“After your event last spring, we decided to create a competition within our own school, modelled on your set-up. We had more than 60 students participating, with 15 sixth formers running the rounds and adjudicating – it was a great experience!” – A state school teacher 

South Hampstead High School’s Debate Hub is supported entirely by funding from donors and proceeds from corporate training sessions, delivered by the school’s expert debate coaches. For more information, visit www.debatehub.co.uk