--- title: "Debate Mate Regional Competition" url: "https://riverside-secondary.com/news/2017-02-10-debate-mate-regional-competition" school: "Riverside Secondary School" --- [Click here to apply for Riverside 6th Form](https://riversideschool.applicaa.com/year12) # Debate Mate Regional Competition ![Image of Debate Mate Regional Competition](https://files.schudio.com/riverside-secondary-school/images/news/260.jpg) 10 February 2017 Riverside took two teams to the first round of the Debate Mate regional competition at the Sydney Russell school. Below is Divine from 7R1’s account of the trip. We stepped into a huge hole full of students with all different colours of uniform. Sydney Russell, Barking Abbey, Eastbury and many more schools sat waiting for the man who stood on the stage to start speaking. 20 minutes later we were split into our A and B teams. Then, led by our mentors, we walked down the halls of the huge school. As we took our seats in the room opposite arrivals we were briefed of the rules. 15 minutes preparation time flew by and we were asked to start the debate: The house would punish parents for the crimes of their children. Even though the opposition were older than us we spoke fluently and fearlessly. Sadly we lost. We waited patiently for the debate to be over and we left the room. In the hall we were greeted with a whole array of food set up neatly at the back. After eating the man stood on the stage once more to announce the next motion this house would band beauty contests. As opposition, we struggled for words however we’re victorious and won the debate. At the end of the day we got onto the coach laughing, singing and feeling happy. [ English National Opera Workshop](https://riverside-secondary.com/news/2017-02-09-english-national-opera-workshop) [Careers fair for all of our Year 11 students ](https://riverside-secondary.com/news/2017-02-27-careers-fair-for-all-of-our-year-11-students) ![Riverside Secondary School](https://files.schudio.com/riverside-secondary-school/images/logo/Logo_Footer.png) ### Riverside Secondary School Renwick Road Barking IG11 0FU 0203 946 5888 ### Social Media - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/riverside_campus/) [![Partnership Learning](https://files.schudio.com/riverside-secondary-school/images/logo/AAAPartnership-Learning_white.png)](https://partnershiplearning.com) © Copyright 2026 Riverside Secondary School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://riverside-secondary.com/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)