Debate Workshops

Welcome to the Darwin Debate!

On November 4th 2009, teams from St Augustines and Quintin Kynaston met at the Linnean Society of London to debate a topic related to Darwin’s theory of evolution.  To prepare them for this task students from each school and Paddington Academy attended workshops at Westminster Libraries during October, where they assessed Darwin’s impact on art and literature, social and black history, science and industry and explored Darwin’s life in more detail.  Resources from these workshops will be available to download from this site in January 2010.

Each school had a team who spoke for the motion, and another team who spoke against. The students needed to employ all their skills of analysis and assimilation to impress the panel of judges helping them to decide which information provided crucial support for their argument.  The judges were impressed with both schools, however Quintin Kynaston came out top, making them the first winners of the Darwin Debate trophy. Congratulations Quintin Kynaston!

Darwin Debate - Quintin Kynaston at St Johns Wood Library Darwin Debate - Quintin Kynaston at St Johns Wood Library Darwin Debate - Paddington Academy brainstorm at Maidevale Library Darwin Debate St Augustines visit to Queens Park Library Students from St Augustines study a Darwin exhibit in the Library at the Linnean Society
Students from St Augustines and Quintin Kynaston prepare for their debate Students from Quintin Kynaston discuss their debate presentation Quintin Kynaston come to their conclusion for their debate Charles Darwin looks down onto the lecture theatre as St Augustines debate against the motion It was a tough competition but Quintin Kynaston were the final winners