Bluecoat Wollaton Academy is one of the first schools in the country to be recognised as an English-Speaking Union (ESU) Oracy Affiliate School in 2021. The ‘ESU Oracy Affiliate School’ recognises that the schools concerned take oracy education seriously and is a recognition of the growing efforts both within the school’s extra-curricular Debating Society and in the wider school to promote oracy, thus enabling young people to thrive in life both at and beyond school.

Schools’ Mace

The Schools’ Mace, founded in 1957, is the oldest and largest debating competition for schools in England and Wales. Involving around 300 schools each year, it offers students from Key Stages 3 to 5 the opportunity to discuss and debate a wide array of controversial subjects and current affairs. Over several heats of topical, passionate dialogue, students develop their knowledge of the world, as well as their reasoning and presentation skills, in a fun, enriching and competitive environment.

The Schools’ Mace Round 1 heats for the 2023-24 competition will take place place via Zoom between 8th – 29th November, with the grand final in late March.

Our school is very proud of our debate team for progress in the national ESU Schools’ Mace competition:

November 2021: Debate Team victory in the ESU Schools’ Mace round 1

January 2022: Debate Team through to the ESU Schools’ Mace Regional Finals

The English-Speaking Union is a charity working to give young people the speaking and listening skills and the cross-cultural understanding they need to thrive.