Broxburn Academy pupil first from school to compete in national debating team at prestigious debating competition

A Broxburn Academy pupil has become the first from her school to make the Scottish National Debating Team and will compete in a worldwide competition this July.

Emma Bell from Broxburn Academy is the first from her school to achieve a spot on Scotland's national debate team.

Emma Bell, who is currently moving into fourth year at the West Lothian school, was one of only five pupils to make the team alongside Lachlan White from George Watson's College, Eoghan Connolly from Douglas Academy in East Dunbartonshire, Freddy Simonet-Lefevre from Craigmount High School and Oscar Swire from Stewart's Melville College.

The passion for debating began in S1 for Emma, who began taking part in debates at lunchtime at school and took part in small competitions.

“When I heard about the Worlds team I thought I may as well give it a shot, it’s good experience,” said Emma, “then I got the call to go to the trials.”

Emma’s application began at the end of November 2019 before she attended a trials weekend. Following the trials, 12 pupils were picked to make a trial team and for three months up until lockdown they met to debate topics at weekends before the final team of five was chosen.

“This team is usually made up of private school pupils, I’m in the middle of nowhere and its not something our school have done or considered before. My headteacher was really happy, all the teachers were all emailing out to say congratulations,” Emma added, “I was absolutely gobsmacked, I was one of the youngest at trials and I’m the youngest in team now, hearing my name get picked I was so surprised, I went into it because I wanted to build on my skills and wanted to learn more about topics. I didn’t expect to be picked, it was surreal.”

The five debaters will be representing Scotland at the prestigious World Schools Debating Championships at the end of July which was originally due to be held in Mexico, but as a result of COVID-19 has been moved online.

At the world championships, teams from around the world debate on a variety of topics - both prepared and unprepared. Topics this year include debates on using computer algorithms for criminal sentencing and legalising drugs in specific parts of cities.

The last time Scotland was crowned world champions at this competition was in Cape Town in 2012 and the team is keen to bring the trophy home again. To prepare, Scotland has already participated in online practice debates against Wales and South Africa, and won all their debates at a highly competitive online competition.

“I’m into debating about crime and justice; can something be morally correct, what makes people do things,” Emma said, “I love it, especially when it’s something that you’re really passionate about and genuinely interested in.

“I love the competitive aspect of debating, it’s a community and now I know debaters all over Scotland from this. It’s a real adrenaline rush.

“It also has a lot of transferable skills as well, my English has improved drastically because now I’m naturally making arguments.”

Emma hopes to sit her National 5 exams after Christmas and has chosen to study Modern Studies and History in school.

To prepare, the team have used Zoom to practice their speaker roles, spar and participate in small competitions online to build their skills ahead of the big competition.

“I am extremely pleased with the progress of the team so far. We’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of us but I’m confident that we’ll do Scotland proud,” says Jordan Pfotenhauer, the team’s coach and Programmes Director at the English-Speaking Union Scotland, an educational charity that uses debating and public speaking to boost attainment.

“It’s especially heartening to see a team that represents such a wide range of schools. To be the first speaker selected in the history of your school is a phenomenal achievement and debating in Scotland will only grow stronger as more young people get involved.”

Peter Reid, headteacher at Broxburn Academy said: “The whole school continues to be so proud of Emma Bell's debating successes. Debating has, under the leadership of History teacher, Robbie McDonald, gone from strength to strength in the school. Emma and her partner won the ESU competition 2 years ago when they were in first year and are in the final again this year.”

Robbie McDonald, who leads the school’s debating club added: “We're all absolutely delighted for Emma. It's a testament to the incredible hard work that she has put in - even more impressive considering the adversity of lockdown! She's a fantastic role model for our younger pupils and we are sure that she will make a brilliant ambassador for Scotland.

“Emma is no stranger to success, having won the Scottish Juniors Debating Competition with her partner Ruby Ferguson when she was in just S1. She made the finals this year of: both the ESU Junior and Senior Mace, the Northern Juniors Debating Competition in Newcastle, the St Andrew’s Day Debating Competition in the Scottish Parliament, the Edinburgh University Juniors Debating Competition, and the Durham Juniors ICYD Competition. Emma was the top Scottish speaker at NJDC and the ICYD Finals, and the top speaker overall at Durham and Edinburgh.”