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Parliamentary Debating Competition

On Friday 21st October St Clement Danes School took a team to a Debating Competition at the Houses of Parliament. The competition was held in the debating rooms off Westminster Hall where official Parliamentary debates also take place, thus giving us a sense of grandeur but obviously adding to the nerves. The competition was being hosted by Dean Russell MP and Gagan Mohindra MP, both MPs for Watford/South West Hertfordshire constituencies and so we were up against 7 other schools from the area including Parmiter’s, Merchant Taylor’s, Stanborough Park Secondary School and Future Academies Watford.

Our Quarter final match was against Croxley Danes School and we were taking the Opposition position to ‘This House believes that all members of the House of Lords should be cross-party’. The debate was close but our first team of Amelie Ma, Anya A, Anya M-W and Joe prevailed. The Semi-final match was up against Ashlyns, with us again taking the Opposition position to ‘This House would remove whole life orders’. Again, the debate was very close but our second team of Archie, Lucy, Amelie Me and George clinched the victory with clarity of argument and solid, precise evidence.

Having made it to the Final, we found ourselves drawn against Watford Girls School. There was a frantic 15 minutes pulling the final team together and ensuring the arguments were secure. This time we were taking the Government position on ‘This House believes that men’s and women’s sports should have equal airtime.’ Our team of Amelie Me, Archie, Anya M and Joe were superb. Their unscripted, evidenced, clear arguments and their timely interjections were fully appreciated by the 6 judges, who included a prominent member of the House of Lords, Lord Gadhia, and St Clement Danes School won the Final.

A special mention and thank you should go to the Year 12s who unsuccessfully tried out for the team but added so much to our preparation in advance. Likewise, the four members of our 12 person team, Max, Hunter, Edward and Nicole, who played a significant role in analysing the debates and feeding evidence and comments to our speakers. Every member of the team played a crucial role in our win. However, I think everyone would agree that our ‘Man of the Match’ was our ‘finisher’ Joe Hamilton who eloquently completed our arguments in both the Quarter final and Final and got the tone of the debates just right. Congratulations to one and all!

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19th December

Charities Week 2025

The halls of St Clement Danes School have been buzzing with holiday cheer this week as the annual Charities Week is officially in full swing. As the Autumn Term draws to a close, pupils and staff have united to raise vital funds for three incredible causes: Endometriosis UK, Spread a Smile, and Herts Young Homeless. The school is alive with the spirit of giving, driven by a jam packed ‘Advent’ schedule designed to get everyone involved in the fundraising efforts. This year’s itinerary has been filled with exciting activities, ranging from pupil led lessons and a "Mystery Bucket" challenge to the competitive excitement of the "Elf Auction" and various competitions. Pupils have also enjoyed the classic "Sponge the Teacher" event and a visit to Santa’s Grotto, ensuring the festive atmosphere is matched only by the community’s generosity. Beyond the classroom activities, pupils have been sharing the festive spirit with the wider community. On 18th December, the SCD Senior Choir paid a special visit to Chorleywood Manor Care Home. The residents were treated to a beautiful selection of Christmas carols, featuring performances by members of the Chamber Choir, Evensong Choir, and the Barbershop Choir. Year 12 pupils Immy and Chrissie noted that "it was a very joyful occasion and it was lovely to see the residents joining in and looking so happy." The success of such a busy week relies heavily on pupil leadership, and the school extends a massive vote of thanks to Year 13 for their incredible hard work and dedication. Their enthusiasm have been the driving force behind this week's fundraising efforts. The week is set to conclude on Friday with the Grand Finale: the highly anticipated Sixth Form Revue, promising a spectacular end to a week of community, charity and celebration.