On Wednesday 19th November, a group of Central Foundation’s student debaters took part in the Boardroom to Classroom event, hosted by Frontier Economics and organised by Debate Mate. The day began with a short walk to Frontier’s offices, conveniently located just around the corner from school. Upon arrival, students from Years 7–10 were welcomed by a fantastic team of volunteers from across the company, ranging from analysts to learning and development managers.
In true Debate Mate style, the morning kicked off with a lively warm-up activity, Where Do You Stand?, sparking energetic discussion on whether AI is now more intelligent than humans. After introductions, students interviewed the volunteers, gaining valuable insights into the world of economics—from the meaning of competition law to the different pathways available within the sector.
Then came the main challenge: the pitch. Working in groups, students were tasked with devising an idea for how AI could be used to tackle a modern-day issue. With support from the volunteers, they prepared and delivered their presentations to the office. The winning team, Callum and Gaston, impressed everyone with their proposal for using AI to support people suffering from depression by detecting early signs before they worsen. Their innovative idea earned the school an incredible prize: a VR Meta Quest headset!
After a tour of the focused and vibrant office space, it was time to return to school. We would like to extend a huge thank-you to Debate Mate for organising such a brilliant event, and to Frontier Economics for hosting and for their generosity—not only in donating the prize, but also in giving their time, expertise, and encouragement to our pupils.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in debating at Central Foundation:
- Monday – KS5 Debate Mate Plus (LB08)
- Tuesday – KS3 Debate It with Hogan Lovells (Week 1 – LB08)
- Wednesday – KS3/4 Debate Mate (LB08)