UWCSEA Teams Shine at Singapore Secondary Schools Debating Championship 2025
Written by UWCSEA Dover and East Debate Teams and produced by Communications Team
20 May 2025
On Friday, 2 May, UWCSEA celebrated an outstanding achievement in sporting excellence as UWCSEA Dover emerged as Division I Grand Champions at the national-level Singapore Secondary Schools Debating Championships (SSSDC) 2025. The Grand Final debate, hosted for the first time at UWCSEA East campus, was preceded by the Plate Final, which UWCSEA East won. Altogether, it was an evening of high-quality debate and remarkable accomplishments for UWCSEA.
To reach this point, both teams competed in three preliminary rounds in Division I, which comprised 20 of the top secondary schools in debate in Singapore. UWCSEA Dover advanced undefeated through the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals, and ultimately triumphed over Nanyang Girls’ High School in a high-stakes Grand Final, debating the motion: “This House regrets the glorification of champions.” Competing in Division I for the first time, UWCSEA East defeated Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in the Plate Final, debating the motion: “This House believes that school does not prepare students for real life.”
The evening also featured Floor Debates, where the audience passionately discussed both motions and the arguments presented by all the teams. The Best Floor Speaker was recognised, highlighting the importance of thoughtful discussion and student voices throughout the night.
UWCSEA Dover Team
The UWCSEA Dover team—Ava, Aahana, Farhad, Yueqian, and Ruhani—delivered a stellar performance to bring home the school’s third Grand Champions title at the national debating competition (2015, 2023, 2025).
“Getting on stage was scary,” they said, “but also calming – we knew we’d done the hard work and were ready.” Their journey had its bumps. A surprising loss in the very first round shook them: “We felt pretty down and doubtful, but we pulled ourselves together. That loss made us even more determined.”
In the Grand Final, their smart and thoughtful arguments truly stood out, particularly given the topic focused on the glorification of champions—an achievement they themselves ultimately secured. The team credited their win to hard work, rigorous weekly training in the skills of argumentation and persuasion, extensive research and exposure to current affairs and global issues, the support of seniors, coaches and teachers, and a community cheering them on.
Farhad, who won Best Speaker of the Grand Final round, said it wasn’t just about speaking well, but about strategy too: “Knowing when to jump in with a strong point takes practice, and our coaches and teammates helped me get there.”
Three members of the Dover team ranked among the top 20 speakers in Division I: Ava (8th), Farhad (9th), and Aahana (18th). These impressive individual rankings highlight not only the debaters’ ability to harness strong teamwork to secure victories, but also the outstanding personal achievements of their members.
But it wasn’t just about the trophies for them: “We’re inspired by those who went before us. This win is proof of our journey, and more importantly, we hope it encourages future debaters to believe in themselves.”
They also highlighted the supportive culture at UWCSEA, from the friendly faces of UWCSEA supporters in the audience, to the late-night sparring sessions with senior debaters from Grade 11 and 12—who themselves are the current reigning national champions of the MOE-ACJC Intercollegiate Debating Championships, the national debate competition at the Junior College level.
“Debating didn’t just teach us how to argue – it helped us understand people better. It showed us the complexity and real impact behind every issue.”
UWCSEA East Team
While Dover added to its legacy, UWCSEA East was making history of its own. In their very first Division I appearance, Aanandi, Advika, Christina, Emma, and Sara won the Plate Final and finished in the top 10 nationally – an incredible achievement for a debut team. UWCSEA East previously won the Division II Grand Final in 2024 and the Division III Grand Final in 2023.
Things didn’t start perfectly. “Our early rounds were tough, and things didn’t go quite how we’d hoped,” the team admitted. “But we kept going. Winning Round 3 gave us the boost we needed.”
In the Plate Final motion on the role of schools in preparing students for real life, the team drew on personal stories and deeper reflections to make their case. Their preparation process was as intense as it was rewarding. It involved drafting cases on their own, refining them through coaching, and constantly tweaking based on feedback.
“It feels amazing. Seeing all our training pay off and bringing the Plate home in our first year is something we’ll always remember.”
One of their speakers, Emma, was ranked 7th Best Speaker in Division I. Achieving such a high ranking requires extensive training in style, content, and strategy. As one team member shared: “I wrote out and timed every rebuttal I could think of. But I also made sure it sounded engaging—humour can help!”
For the team, this journey wasn’t just about winning. It was about gaining confidence, sharpening their thinking, and growing together. “We supported each other after losses, learned from every mistake, and turned feedback into fuel.”
The East Team also credited their vibrant and inclusive debate culture led by ROGA Academy and their team of experienced coaches. Structured training sessions, led by experienced coaches provided by ROGA gave everyone space to grow. After every round, the team would gather to reflect – not to dwell on the past, but to focus on what came next.“Yes, we were nervous. But the chance to represent East Campus and show what we could do on a national stage made everything worth it.”Now, the East Team is looking ahead with confidence. Their aim? To keep building on this success and empower even more young voices to speak up and stand out.
At both campuses, debating isn’t just about competition – it’s about finding your voice, thinking deeply, and stepping up with courage.
As Aahana from Dover put it:
“Debate has grounded me. It’s taught me to think of the human consequences behind every issue.”
And Ruhani added:
“Every opportunity to speak builds confidence – whether it’s a class presentation or a dinner table discussion. That’s how you learn to communicate with impact.”
With Dover as three-time national champions and East as first-time Plate Final winners, this year’s SSSDC has shown what makes UWCSEA’s debating community so special: passion, preparation, perseverance, and a strong belief in the power of student voice. Huge congratulations to both teams, and to all the coaches, teachers, seniors, and supporters who helped make it happen. Let’s go, UWCSEA!