Debating is an integral part of the cultural life of St Margaret’s. Students are provided with opportunity to develop their active listening, verbal communication, and critical thinking skills, while building confidence in presenting to an audience and crafting a cohesive and responsive case. St Margaret’s is a participant in the Queensland Debating Union (QDU) Secondary Schools and Junior Round Robin Competition. These competitions allow students to engage with real-world issues in a supportive inter-school and co-curricular competitive environment.
The School’s debating coaching provides teams with greater independence as they progress through the program. In the early years, coaches provide close instruction on manner, method and matter, with the focus moving toward matter (i.e. developing a strong case line, responsiveness and rebuttal, cohesion, and logic) toward the senior years.