Debating Overview
The School takes part in three debating competitions:
The ISDA (Independent Schools Debating Association) and Eastside (schools located in the eastern suburbs) competitions in Terms I and II, and GPS (Great Public Schools) competition in Term III. Debating is available to boys in all Forms and training sessions take place after school.
An internal debating competition is run on Friday after school for interested boys in Forms I and II.
On debating nights parking is available at the nearby Riley Street Parking Station. Supper is held in the Alastair Mackerras Theatre Foyer after the debates.
| Debating Coordinator | Ms Smith |
|---|---|
| MIC ISDA | Mr Saidi |
| MIC Eastside | Ms Pols |
| MIC GPS | Ms Naghten |
| Form I | Ms Rothbart and Dr Allen |
|---|---|
| Form II | Mr Reisner |
| Internal debating (Forms I and II) | Ms Angeloni |
| Form III | Ms Cleave |
| Form IV | Mr Budnik |
| Seniors | Mr Bowes |
Eastside Debating Competition
The Eastside Debating Competition involves schools from Sydney’s Eastern suburbs.
Year 7–9 teams prepare at 5:25pm and debate at 6:15pm. Year 10 teams and Senior teams prepare at 6:25pm and debate at 7:15pm.
HOME DEBATES
All debates will take place on level two of the Palladium Building and topics will be given out in the foyer on that level.
EASTSIDE DEBATING FIXTURES
GPS Debating Competition
Please note carefully the start times for debates in this competition, which may not agree with previous social debates or with ISDA or Eastside in Terms I and II. There have also been changes to start times in the GPS Competition in recent years.
Years 7, 8, 9 teams receive topics at 5:20pm and debate at 6:30pm following 45 minutes prep (5:45pm–6:30pm). Years 10, Thirds, Seconds and Firsts teams receive topics at 6:10pm and debate at 7:30pm following 1 hour preparation (6:30pm–7:30pm).
| Year 7 | 3–4 minutes | Year 10 | 5–7 minutes |
| Year 8 | 3–4 minutes | 1st-3rd | 5–7 minutes |
| Year 9 | 4–5 minutes |
TRANSPORT
There will be buses arranged for all away debates. There will be NO return buses. Note that the buses depart to arrive in time for the Year 8-9 topic distribution at 5:20pm, so boys need to come prepared to keep busy in the interim time. As usual, there will be a bus-booking sheet at Masters' Reception.
SIDES (IN ALL YEARS)
Allocation of Affirmative and Negative sides for debates will be decided by a coin toss on the night. One coin toss will be made at 5:30pm for the junior debates and a second coin toss at 6:20pm for the senior debates.
HOME DEBATES
Topics are given out in the Alastair Mackerras Theatre Foyer (AMTF) and debates will be held in the Palladium building levels 1–3. The Firsts debate will be held in the Palladium Theatre in the bottom level of the Palladium building.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further information about the competition may be found on the GPS debating website.
GPS DEBATING FIXTURES
Independent Schools Debating Association (ISDA) Competition
The Independent Schools Debating Association (ISDA) competition involves thirty-two schools divided into four zones.
A set of seven preliminary rounds is followed by an octos-final, a quarter-final and a semi-final round. The competition concludes with a grand final round.
Years 7, 8 and 9 prepare at 6:15pm and debate at 7:00pm. Year 10 and Seniors A and B prepare at 7:15pm and debate at 8:00pm. These times may not apply to social debates and boys should check starting times with their coach.
| Division | Speaking Times |
|---|---|
| Years 7 and 8 | 3-5 minutes |
| Years 9 and 10 | 4-6 minutes |
| Seniors A and B | 5-7 minutes |
The ISDA Debating fixtures for 2020 are given below. Venues for semi-final rounds and the grand final round will be communicated when available.
TRANSPORT
There will be buses arranged for all away debates. There will be NO return buses. As usual, there will be a bus-booking sheet at Masters' Reception.
SIDES (IN ALL YEARS)
The Host School will affirm and the Away School will negate. For the Finals part of the season, a coin toss on the night will determine the allocation of Affirmative or Negative.
HOME DEBATES
Topics are given out in the Alastair Mackerras Theatre Foyer (AMTF) and debates will be held in the classrooms around H Block.
The addresses and maps of each school involved in the ISDA Competition, not found in the School Diary, are located on the ISDA website.
ISDA DEBATING FIXTURES
Debating Colours
Colours and other awards are given to participants in Debating according to the criteria set out below.
Colours with Honour Badge
- for membership of the NSW team; or
- for membership of a GPS representative team; or
- for membership of the premiership-winning Grammar ISDA Senior A team; or
- for membership of the premiership-winning Grammar GPS First team.
Colours with Merit
- for membership of the Grammar ISDA Senior A team for 2 years (subject to a very high standard of performance as well as displaying a strong commitment to Debating); or
- for membership of the Grammar GPS First team for 2 years (subject to a very high standard of performance as well as displaying a strong commitment to Debating).
Colours
- for membership of the Grammar ISDA Senior A team; or
- for membership of the Grammar GPS First team.
Half Colours with Merit
- for membership of a premiership-winning Grammar ISDA Senior B team; or
- for membership of a premiership-winning Grammar GPS Second team; or
- for membership of the Grammar ISDA Senior B team for 2 years (subject to a very high standard of performance as well as displaying a strong commitment to Debating); or
- for membership of the Grammar GPS Second team for 2 years (subject to a very high standard of performance as well as displaying a strong commitment to Debating).
Half Colours
- for membership of the Grammar ISDA Senior B team; or
- for membership of the Grammar GPS Second team.
Debating Pennant
- for membership of the Eastside Year 11 or Year 12 team; or
- for membership of a Grammar Third team; or
- for membership of a Grammar Fourth team and membership of an Eastside Year 11 or 12 team; or
- for membership of the premiership-winning Grammar Year 10 ISDA teams; or
- for membership of the premiership-winning Grammar Year 10 GPS team.
The Headmaster makes the final determination and reserves the right to grant or withhold awards on exceptional grounds as he sees fit regardless of the published criteria which may also be altered at any time without notice.
Recommendations for awards are made by a Colours Committee of three experienced masters, chaired by the Deputy Headmaster (Co-curricular). Nominations are made to the Committee by the Staff in charge of Debating.
Colours are awarded in Term III.