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.
Combined High Schools
Each year, the NSW Department of Education selects a squad of senior high school students to compete in a series of representative debates against three private school organisations. This Combined High Schools squad will be selected on Saturday 27 July, and outstanding Year 11 and 12 debaters from your school are invited to attend. This year a Firsts, Seconds and Thirds team will be selected, along with two reserves.
The selection trials will be held at The Arts Unit office next to Lewisham Public School and will involve at least 3 debates for each participant over the course of the day. Students who are selected for the squad will attend a series of coaching sessions prior to the competition. These will be held either at The Arts Unit in Lewisham or online (if students are unable to attend in person). 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 3 evening debates to be held on Wednesday 4 September, Monday 9 September and Wednesday 11 September.
Trials information
- Date: Saturday 27 July 2024
- Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
- Venue: The Arts Unit, Lewisham
All students trying out for the squad should bring their own lunch and a drink. Successful students will be announced at the day’s end via email. To register for the selection trials, please complete the CHS application. (Please note a maximum of three students from each school can be selected).
Students from regional areas are also invited to attend online 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.
About the competition
- Students must be from Years 11 and 12.
- Students are nominated by coaches and adjudicators and selection trials take placeat the beginning of Term 3.
- 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.
- 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.
2023 CHS squad
Congratulations to our 2023 CHS squad who finished a very creditable 2nd place in last year’s NSW Representative Debating Challenge.
| 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 |
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 Justine.clarke@det.nsw.edu.au so we can assist.
