Sixth Form Pupils Crowned National Winners at Joutes Oratoires French Debating Finals
23 April 2026 - Academic
Following their success in the regional heats of the Joutes Oratoires Sixth Form French Debating Competition, Annika and Sula (LVI) represented Wycombe Abbey at the National Finals, held at the French Institute in London.
The finals brought together the top ten debating pairs from across the UK to engage in high-level debates conducted entirely in French. The motions challenged students to think critically and articulate complex ideas, with topics including ‘Il faut s’ennuyer’ (‘You have to get bored’) and ‘La performance justifie tout dans le sport’ (‘Performance justifies everything in sport’).
Annika and Sula delivered two closely contested but decisive victories in the opening round, securing their place in the Gold National Final. With just 15 minutes preparation time, they were presented with an unseen motion: ‘Être boulanger est plus utile qu’être politicien’ (‘Being a baker is more important than being a politician’). In a highly competitive final against an UVI team from Winchester College, Annika and Sula impressed the judges with their persuasive arguments and confident delivery, ultimately being announced as national winners.
Their performance throughout the competition was exceptional. Debating effectively on complex and demanding topics in a second language requires a high level of linguistic fluency and analytical ability, all of which Annika and Sula demonstrated consistently.
Congratulations to Annika and Sula, who made Wycombe Abbey very proud.
Sophie McIvor
Head of French
Keep up to date with further news from Wycombe Abbey on our social channels.