On Saturday, March 12th, College students Will B., Nia M-R., Anisa H. and Udita D. were greeted in the Oxford Union debating chamber with the news that all the participants on Finals Day had beaten 1,000 teams to be there! That was a useful injection of confidence before they began four rounds of debating against schools from across the UK and also from farther afield, e.g. Canada. The motions for debate concerned financial compensation to those found not guilty at trial, making oil and gas companies pay to combat climate change, requiring teachers to tell students that they can achieve anything, whatever their innate ability, and barring those who have previously used violence for political ends from holding public office. All the Howell's students acquitted themselves well and had an enjoyable, if very demanding, day.
