Secondary Debating at WestMAC

Monday night (16 June) was the Final of the Ipswich Secondary Schools Debating Competition, where our eight Year 7-12 WestMAC teams continued to achieve success and show how much they have improved, grown in confidence and skill throughout debating this term.

After the initial four rounds of debating, WestMAC had four teams in the top four. To be in the top four is a huge achievement, with 21 teams in the junior division, 19 teams in the intermediate division and 8 teams in the senior division. To have four teams in the top four and almost all our teams in the top eight, highlights the strength of secondary debating at WestMAC.

Semi Final Results (teams in the Top 4)

Junior WMAC1 debated again Ipswich Girls Grammar and unfortunately lost and then went on to debate for overall third in the final debate.  

Intermediate WMAC1 debated against Ipswich Girls Grammar and won and went through to the Intermediate grand final debate.

Senior WMAC1 debated against St Edmunds College and won and went through to the Senior grand final debate.

Senior WMCA2 debated against Ipswich Girls Grammar and won and went through to the Senior grand final debate.

This meant that in the competition’s 2025 final on Monday 13 June, the Intermediate WMAC1 was in the grand final to debate for the Intermediate Championship. And the two Senior WestMAC teams debated against each other in the 2025 grand final for the senior division. This was an awesome achievement, which also meant that one of our teams will be bringing home the Senior Championship trophy.  

Results from the Grand Final debates

Intermediate WMAC1 debated against another Ipswich Girls Grammar team in the Intermediate Grand Final and unfortunately lost, awarding them the 2^nd place overall position in the 2025 competition (out of 19 teams).

Senior Debate with WMAC1 vs WMAC2 was a thrilling and exciting debate to watch. It was also wonderful to see our students debate with so much depth of knowledge, passion and skill. There were only a handful of points between the two teams. The title of championship team went to WMAC2 (coached by Wendy Jorgensen). WAMC1 was awarded 2^nd overall in the Senior 2025 competition.

Special note and acknowledgement for Chloe Bulter’s individual achievement in being awarded the Top Debater of the competition for the Senior Division. Chloe’s average score across all 6 debates (and across all adjudicators) was an impressive 97.5 points (out of 100). Well done, Chloe.

Congratulations to all 2025 WestMAC Debaters and coaches on a very successful and exciting debating competition. The feedback from the organisers, adjudicators, coaches and parents was how respectful and talented our students have been throughout the competition, and how wonderful it was to see them all grow in confidence and skill as debaters and public speakers. 

Our 2025 Debating Teams

For more information about Secondary Debating at WestMAC, please visit our NEST page.

Victoria Fehringer

Secondary Debating Co-Ordinator

Leader of Learning - English