23 / 44
Christian Life at Abingdon – ‘Y’
This middle school group is a fun way of exploring the
Christian faith by discussing tough questions, watching video
clips and by looking at the Bible. Anyone in Middle School is
most welcome – whatever your beliefs. All accompanied by
good food!
Christian Life at Abingdon –
Youth Alpha Course
The Alpha Course, attended by millions worldwide, is an
opportunity for fifth and sixth formers to explore the Christian
faith in a relaxed café-style setting. It is designed primarily for
those who are not church-goers and is open to anyone who
wants to understand more about Christianity, whatever their
beliefs. There are ten thought-provoking sessions, where there
is a short presentation and opportunity for discussion. Pupils
get to discuss what they really think and to ask any questions
they may have. This could also be of particular interest to
pupils studying Philosophy and Ethics to help them formulate
their own opinions and arguments. For more information
check out
www.alpha.org.
Debating Society
Allegedly Abingdon’s oldest non-sporting society, the
Debating Society is the place to argue and form opinions
about a variety of topics and motions. If you love an
argument, or generally thrive on controversy, this is the
society for you.
We debate everything from serious politics to more abstract
ideas such as whether we should follow our dreams in life,
via the thorny issues of organ donation and torturing terrorists.
In the open debates, volunteer speakers put their views
across in speeches before the debate gets opened up to the
floor and everyone else gets their say – lively disagreement
inevitably ensues.
We enter teams into a number of national competitions in
debating and public speaking and run workshops to help
improve debating skills. Throughout the year, we arrange
popular dinner debates with girls’ schools for the senior
members of the society. All are welcome. Within the Debating
Society there are also opportunities for sixth form pupils to
meet in smaller groups to hold debates – and there is a
workshop aimed at middle school pupils to help them develop
debating and public speaking skills.
Lower School Debating Society
A chance for lower school boys to hone their public speaking
skills while debating topical issues. Joint debates with
St Helen’s can be arranged over the course of the year.
Novels and Nibbles
Novels and Nibbles is for any third year student who enjoys
adventurous reading and intense discussions of books and
writers (along with pretty much anything remotely connected
to those two things). We decide which books we’re going to
read together and usually get through three or four a term;
recent favourites include
Flowers for Algernon
,
Nation
and
The Lost Art.
Our meetings are lively and opinionated, and
have covered everything from cliches in dystopian fiction
to the possibility of extra-sensory perception.
Model United Nations
Through the Model United Nations Society we take
delegations along to conferences throughout the year at
other schools. At these we represent a country’s interest
in debates. It’s an excellent way of building legal, political
and debating experience as well as broadening
knowledge of current and international affairs and
socialising with other schools.
21