Last term, our Debate Club members, Grace H, Arabella C, Thomas J, Jack L and Sal A proudly represented AKS in The Great Lancashire Debate, a county-wide competition designed to encourage Year 9 students to explore local heritage and develop their public speaking and debating skills.
The challenge invited students to create and present an original idea that would celebrate Lancashire’s rich history, traditions and culture, while inspiring local communities to feel a greater sense of pride in where they live. Working collaboratively and drawing on ideas from fellow members of the Debate Club, our team carefully considered what makes Lancashire such a unique and vibrant county.
After much discussion, the students proposed the idea of a large-scale Lancashire Festival, bringing together the county’s most cherished traditions, local food, music, arts, sports and historical attractions in one exciting event. Their vision was to create a celebration that would not only honour Lancashire’s heritage but also strengthen community spirit and encourage future generations to appreciate the county’s unique identity.
The team then worked hard to develop their proposal into a persuasive and engaging speech. Through research, teamwork and plenty of practice, they refined their arguments and prepared to present their idea to the judges. On the day of the competition, they delivered their speech with confidence, enthusiasm and professionalism, impressing the panel with both the strength of their proposal and their excellent presentation skills.
We are delighted to share that their efforts were rewarded with success, as they were named the Fylde regional winners of The Great Lancashire Debate. This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to their dedication, creativity and teamwork throughout the competition.
The team will now progress to the county final at County Hall, where they will have the opportunity to debate their idea against other regional winners from across Lancashire. We are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished so far and wish Grace, Arabella, Thomas, Jack and Sal the very best of luck as they take on the next stage of the competition.
We look forward to hearing how they get on in the final!