Our Marist team members—Tilly, Vittoria, and Inayah—successfully passed the first round and received excellent feedback from the judge. It’s also been a fantastic learning opportunity for our students.

Inayah, in Year 10, said that preparing and delivering her speech on the benefits of a four-day school week was both challenging and rewarding. ‘The support from my peers and teachers made this experience even more meaningful, and I look forward to competing in the next round.’

Vittoria said, ‘Taking part in the Mace was an unforgettable experience. I was able to work on my skills preparing a speech and presenting one in a convincing and engaging manner. It was also incredibly beneficial to receive questions on the spot and learn to stand my ground about my argument. I’m so excited for the next round and further improving these skills with my fabulous team!’

For Tilly, this was her second time competing in the competition, and she has enjoyed every minute of it. She was supported by a great team and worked together with them not only to create a compelling argument but also to improve skills such as confidence and persuasive speaking.

Well done to everyone! We all look forward to the second round.

The Schools’ Mace Competition is run by the English Speaking Union and is the largest and oldest debating competition for schools.