Girls’ Leadership and Debating at Our North Yorkshire Private School
Debate Club at Queen Mary’s: Part of Our Leadership for Girls Offering
Debating plays a particularly powerful role in supporting girls’ development at school, helping them to find and use their voice with confidence and conviction. Through structured debate, girls learn to articulate their ideas clearly, think critically, and challenge viewpoints respectfully, building the self-assurance needed to speak up in academic and real-world settings. Regular opportunities to debate encourage resilience, leadership, and teamwork, while also fostering active listening and empathy. By engaging in debate from an early age, girls develop the confidence to express opinions, defend arguments, and participate fully in discussions—skills that support success across the curriculum and prepare them to be confident, articulate contributors beyond school.
Queen Mary’s Girls Debating Team Compete at St. Peter’s School, York
KS2 & KS3 Debate Fixture – Queen Mary’s vs St Peter’s Debating Competition
Queen Mary’s was delighted to host an inspiring KS2 and KS3 debate fixture against St Peter’s, bringing together pupils for an afternoon of lively discussion, critical thinking, and respectful challenge. The event provided an excellent platform for our young debaters to engage with a range of thought-provoking motions, encouraging them to articulate their ideas clearly while listening carefully to opposing viewpoints.
Throughout the afternoon, pupils demonstrated impressive confidence, courage, and teamwork, delivering well-structured arguments with clarity and conviction. Our debaters showcased sharp reasoning, persuasive speaking, and the ability to respond thoughtfully under pressure, reflecting the strong emphasis placed on oracy and critical thinking within the curriculum. The debates were conducted with great professionalism, sportsmanship, and mutual respect, creating a positive and supportive atmosphere for all involved.
Congratulations to St Peter’s on their overall win, and a huge well done to every pupil who took part for their enthusiasm, preparation, and commitment. We are immensely proud of all our debaters, who represented Queen Mary’s with confidence and maturity. Events like this are invaluable in building communication skills and self-belief, and we are already looking forward to the next fixture.
Queen Mary’s School Leading the Way with Our Girls’ Leadership Programme
Queen Mary’s School is proud to be leading the way with our HER VOICE: Leadership for Girls Curriculum, which is designed to empower pupils with the confidence, skills, and mindset needed to thrive as future leaders. Through a rich programme of opportunities, including public speaking, debating, teamwork, problem-solving, external speaker workshops, and real-world leadership experiences, girls are encouraged to step forward, express their ideas, and take initiative.
Our female leadership training programme nurtures resilience, self-belief, and a strong sense of responsibility, helping pupils to develop their own leadership style while learning the value of collaboration and integrity. By placing leadership at the heart of school life, Queen Mary’s ensures that every girl is supported to realise her potential and make a positive impact both within the school community and beyond.
