Combined High Schools representative debating

Years 11 and 12

NSW senior government school students trial for places in one of three representative Combined High Schools teams. Those teams then compete against other representative teams from various private school organisations in a bid to win the NSW Representative Debating Cup.

Image
2023 CHS thirds team

Latest news

Congratulations to our 2023 CHS squad who finished a very creditable 2nd place in last year’s NSW Representative Debating Challenge. Going into the final round, CHS held a narrow lead of 1 point and only needed 3 points from either a Firsts win, or a combined Seconds and Thirds win, to retain the trophy. Unfortunately, while all the debates came down to the wire and were extremely close (the firsts losing in a split decision which could have gone either way) GPS took out the championship with a clean sweep of all three debates and were worthy winners. The 2023 squad is below.

Student School
Vishruth Anand Sydney Boys High School
Darshanik Aryal James Ruse Agricultural High School
Lucy Beale Wollongong Performing Arts High School
Jay Bloomfield Toormina High School
Aileen Cao James Ruse Agricultural High School
Abrar Chowdhury Sydney Boys High School
Nara Gong James Ruse Agricultural High School
Agastya Govind Sydney Boys High School
Josh Herridge Cammeraygal High School
Anhaar Kareem Sydney Girls High School
Melissa Liu Sydney Girls High School
Alexia Rigoni Cammeraygal High School
Johnny Stamiris Prairiewood High School
Miri Stubbs-Goulston Sydney Girls High School
Ella Uhlmann North Sydney Girls High School
Jerry Yuan North Sydney Boys High School

2024 selection trials

The venue and date for the 2024 selection trials for the Combined High Schools team will be confirmed in Term 2. The trials day will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and will involve at least three debates for each participant over the course of the day. Students who are selected in the squad will attend a series of coaching sessions each Wednesday evening from 4:30 pm until 6:30 pm. These will be held either at The Arts Unit in Lewisham or online. Some of the state’s most successful debaters and adjudicators will be involved in coaching the team.

The teams will then compete against the best non-government school debaters in three evening debates in September. Just a reminder that students from regional areas are welcome to trial as long as they are able to commit to attending the in-person competition debates. Some training sessions will be accessible online for students who cannot attend due to distance or illness. To register for the trials, contact the Speaking Competitions Officer.

About the competition

  • Students must be from Years 11 and 12.
  • Students are nominated by coaches and adjudicators and selection trials take place at the end of Term 2.
  • The selected students then participate in a series of coaching sessions.
  • The Combined High Schools teams will face teams from the IGSA, GPS, and CAS debating organisations in a series of debates in Term 3.
  • Firsts, Seconds and Thirds debates are held simultaneously in the evening at a host school. Social distancing restrictions permitting, parents and teachers are encouraged to attend.
  • Medallions and CHS ties are awarded to team members of the Firsts, Seconds, and Thirds. The NSW Representative Debating Cup is awarded to the champion representative team.

Enquiries

Justine Clarke
Speaking Competitions Officer
The Arts Unit
Phone
02 8512 1172
The debating team
The Arts Unit