News
St Aloysius' College Pupils Take Home Bar Association Cup
The Glasgow Bar Association Debating Finals at Glasgow City Chambers proved to be a spectacular night. Our very own Ali and Armaan fended off significant opposition to win the cup! Twenty-four schools were involved and the boys competed over three significant rounds to ultimately win the finals. The motion was: ’This House believes that National Service would be good for young people.’ The boys were the final opposition team and they were so persuasive.
Head of Admissions and Wider Achievement, Mrs. Elaine Craig, added;
"I know you will share my pride in Ali and Armaan who were simply outstanding. They were cheered on by members of the student body who I thank for providing such wonderful moral support. It made such a difference!
The boys quietly divulged how blown away they had been by staff who had wished them well over the last few days. This definitely gave them a significant boost in the last leg of the competition. Thank you."
Well done Ali and Armaan. On their journey to winning the cup, the boys added:
"We want to share with you the incredible journey we went on as we prepared for the Glasgow Bar Association's prestigious Debating Competition, which has been running for 35 years. When we were first selected to represent the school, we were incredibly anxious. We had only ever participated in the school's Public Speaking Club, and debating was an entirely new challenge.
The competition required us to debate mature topics that we had no prior knowledge of. Our first task was to understand the motion for the first round, "This house would mothball the Scottish Parliament." We had no idea where to start. But with Mrs. Craig's and Ms. McCartin’s guidance, we had dived into research. We spent countless hours reading articles, analysing different viewpoints, and understanding the intricacies of the topic. Mrs. Craig taught us how to structure our arguments, anticipate counterarguments, and develop a persuasive narrative.
Delivering our arguments required not just presenting our points, but also engaging with the audience and judges, and responding to Points of Information on the spot. This was particularly challenging, as it tested our ability to think quickly and stay composed under pressure. Yet, with each question, our confidence grew. We realised that we had truly understood the topic and could handle the unexpected.
This process was intense and often overwhelming. There were times when we doubted ourselves and our ability to grasp such complex subjects in a short period. But we pushed through, driven by our commitment to do our best for the school. Every late night spent refining our points and every practice debate we conducted helped build our confidence.
Through this preparation, we learned not just about debating, but also about perseverance, teamwork, and the importance of thorough research. We were stepping into an unfamiliar world, but with each step, we grew more confident and prepared. This journey taught us that with dedication and support, we could overcome any challenge.
When the day of the competition arrived, we were nervous but ready. We had spent countless hours preparing, and now it was time to put our skills to the test. The atmosphere at the competition was intense, with teams from 24 schools across Glasgow and beyond. Each team was eager to showcase their best arguments.
As the proposition team, we took to the floor with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Speaking in front of judges from the Glasgow Speaker’s Club was daunting, but we reminded ourselves of all the hard work and preparation we had put in.
Delivering our arguments required not just presenting our points, but also engaging with the audience and judges. Yet, with each argument, our confidence grew. We realised that we had truly understood the topic and could handle the unexpected.
Winning the semi-finals with the motion "This house should scrap LEZs" was a huge milestone. This victory propelled us into the finals at the City Chambers, where we debated on the motion "This house believes National Service would be good for young people." Standing there, representing St Aloysius in our green blazers, we felt immense pride.
When we were announced as the winners of the Junior Debating Competiton, it was a moment of pure joy. Our school had not won this cup in 24 years, and to bring it back was an incredible honour. This journey has not only improved our debating skills but has also made us consider future career possibilities we never thought of before.
None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support and of Mrs Craig and Ms McCartin. They pushed us to our limits and helped us achieve what we once thought was impossible."
