Debating Pandas is the ideal course for early high school students looking to consolidate their debating skills.
Student to Teacher Ratio 9:1Provide students with strong foundations as debaters, with a different focus each term.
Give students the opportunity to participate in a multiple of debates on a range of different topics.
Allow students multiple practice opportunities, and receive plenty of individual feedback.
Monday
3:50PM - 5:50PM
3rd February - 7th April
10 Weeks
$630
Monday
4:30PM - 6:30PM
10th February - 7th April
9 Weeks
$585
Tuesday
6:00PM - 8:00PM
4th February - 1st April
9 Weeks
$675
Wednesday
5:20PM - 7:20PM
5th February - 9th April
10 Weeks
$630
Wednesday
5:30PM - 7:30PM
12th February - 9th April
9 Weeks
$495
Thursday
4:30PM - 6:30PM
13th February - 10th April
9 Weeks
$585
Thursday
4:30PM - 6:30PM
13th February - 10th April
9 Weeks
$495
Book in quick for Term 1, 2025!
Key Features
Term Focuses
Whilst always revising the essential elements of debating – cases, arguments and rebuttal – the focus of Debating Pandas changes every term, with the following focuses in 2025:
While it’s recommended that students try each of these focuses, and the emphases change each year, there is no particular need to start with any of them, meaning students are welcome to join at any time!
More Information
At first glance, there’s so much you need to know for debating – how can you possibly have enough stored up there to tackle a debating topic on literally anything with only 45 minutes of prep??
However, as you become more involved, you’ll discover that the topics aren’t as limitless as they seem. Instead, they often revolve around a set of familiar concepts and Contemporary Topic Areas.
In Term #1 of the Debating Pandas program, students will explore a number of these topic areas and learn strategies to tackle them. Beginning with common subjects for this age group, such as education and role of government debates, students will have the chance to consider the typical stakeholders and issues involved in each.
This program connects theoretical concepts to the real world through engaging activities and debates, ensuring learners are able to apply what they’ve learned. They’ll also receive personalised feedback every step of the way – helping them realise their full potential.
Over the course of the term, students will have the opportunity to:
Our Debating Pandas program is a mixed-level class for students in Years 7 – 9 designed for students starting out in the world of debating as well as those with some speaking experience.
Debating Pandas caters for students in Years 7 who:
Additionally, Debating Pandas caters for students in Years 8 & 9 who:
We usually recommend that students do at least four terms of Debating Pandas, and especially students in Year 7, before moving up to Debating Club to ensure they cover all the essential concepts inherent to debating and feel comfortable with older students!
Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss what’s best for your child!
Fostering a Nurturing Class Environment
Each program commences with the coach creating a welcoming class environment and ensuring that all students grasp the fundamental rules and concepts of debating – ensuring everyone, regardless of experience, is on the same page.
The initial sessions also incorporate various speaking activities to aid students in honing their debating skills.
Common Concepts in Debating
For the Common Topic Areas focus for our Pandas program, students will generally cover:
Practice Debates
In addition to all the theory, students will have the opportunity to participate in multiple practice debates and speaking activities during the term. Each debate will be on a different topic, and students will have the opportunity to speak in different roles each time.
End of Term Presentation
Each term ends with a presentation, either to peers or parents (depending on the venue). This is an excellent opportunity for students to showcase what they’ve learned over the course of the term and continue their confidence-building journey.
Students generally spend the last session or two preparing and practising their debating speeches for the presentation.
Coaches will also provide an update to parents on what was covered during the term, as well as what comes next for the students’ debating journeys.
As a mixed-experience program, our Debating Pandas program is designed to be completed multiple times – with a different focus every term, there’s always something new for students to take away from the program!
Alternatively, if your child is in Year 7 and wants to try public speaking, our Public Speaking Penguins program teaches students all the essential skills they need to become great public speakers!
Once they feel comfortable with debating, coaches may recommend students move up to the Advanced Debating Club program, which will help more advanced students engage with more complex concepts alongside older and more experienced debaters.
However, if you’re looking for something during a school break, you may want to try one of our holiday workshops, such as Debating Hawks, Practice Debates or Public Speaking Polar Bears, which builds on the skills learned during the term.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or get in touch using our contact form to learn more!
My daughter likes the course very much and it helps her to build up confidence! Will continue the course next year.
The holiday program was really good, we continued classes during the school term and are very content with the classes,
According to the dozens of high school term students surveyed in 2023...
had fun!
felt more confident!
improved their speaking manner!
wanted to come back next time!
