Combined High Schools Representative Debating
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.
About the competition
Each year, the NSW Department of Education selects a squad of around 16 senior high school students to compete in a series of representative debates against three private school organisations. Trials for the 2026 squad will take place in July. Further details will be available here in time.
Rules of the competition
- Students must be from Year 11 or 12.
- Students can be nominated by their teachers or self-nominate. Students must register to trial.
- A maximum of three students from each school can be selected for the squad.
- The selected students will need to be available to 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 in Sydney.
- 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.
Videos about CHS debating
Gallery
Select image to expand.
All Arts Units programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in the Combined High Schools Representative Debating program, please email [email protected] so we can assist.
