Youth Speaks 2025 - Colfox Seniors win District 1200 Finals!

Congratulations to the Sir John Colfox Academy team for winning the Final of the Seniors Rotary Youth Speaks debating competition at Taunton School.  In the first picture they are, from the left, Oliver Chaning-Pearse (proposer), Arturo Webster-Botella (chair), Poppy Grier (opposer) and Mrs Roz Ward, teacher. 

The Colfox Intermediate team also competed. In the second picture they are, from the left, Eliza Groves (proposer), Poppy Sweet (chair) and Iris Mould (opposer)

The Colfox Seniors team argued the case for and against the topic ‘The UK cannot meet the current annual population increase'. The Intermediates debated 'Is it time for tourism to end'. Both teams presented their cases knowledgeably and with confidence as each faced stiff opposition from four other teams from within the Rotary District 1200 area.

After their debates, the teams responded to a question from the audience after which the audience was invited by the MC to vote for or against the motions by a show of hands. At the conclusion of the debates, the adjudicating judges retired to discuss and decide the outcome of the competition and announce the winners. 

Stuart Gilbert, Governor for District 1200, presented the Colfox team with their winners certificates. 

The team will now progress to the Cluster final to be held at Clifton College, Bristol on 12 March.

For more pictures go to https://mineheadrotary.short.gy/ys25johncolfox