BMSG’s senior club debate members got to grips with some serious moral dilemmas when taking part in the regional heats of The Ethics Cup (@ethicscup) at Queen’s University this week. The team, consisting of Year 12 students Rowan Ross and Lucy Moran and Year 13s Bianca Kasereka Branco, Ellie Stephenson, Myla Stewart and Gabriela Zubel, competed against seven other schools from across Northern Ireland, discussing ethical issues of public concern ranging from the principles of pet breeding and vegetarianism to the morality of having paywalls for scientific research.

Our students showed exemplary teamwork and great eloquence in their matches against teams from St Louis’ Grammar and Lumen Christi College, before being knocked out by able opponents from St Malachy’s College in a close-run match in the penultimate round of the tournament. Judges commented how gratifying it was to see an all-girl team take part and congratulated us on our performance, while the girls pronounced it an “absolutely amazing” experience and have already begun planning for the match next year! Huge thanks to the Philosophy department at QUB for organising such an excellent day and to Miss Ryder for coaching the team in their weeks of preparation.