Townsville Grammar School has a very active and successful Debating and Public Speaking programme as part of the co-curricular life of the School.

Debating

North Ward Campus (Years 7-12):
All students from Years 7 to 12, have the opportunity to partake in Interschool Debating. The School regularly fields about 12 teams and in 2012 TGS won the Junior Shield for the sixth year in a row and the Senior Shield for the fifth time in six years. 

The School also organises a Middle School (Years 7-9) Interhouse Debating Competition. This  competition was created to expose these year levels to the art and craft of debating. It has been a very positive feature in the overall success and growth of Debating at Townsville Grammar.

The School enters a Junior and Senior team in the Apex Debating Competition held nation wide. In 2012, the Junior team won the Townsville competition and were one of four teams in the Queensland Finals held on the Sunshine Coast. 

Annandale Campus (Pre-Prep - Year 6):

Debating is for Year 6 at the Junior School and exists as an interhouse competition. The competition runs mainly in Term 4, and runs weekly until two finalists emerge. Every student has the opportunity to debate and then teams put forward their best candidates for the finals series. Students learn how to present arguments and points of view, and also learn the etiquette of debating, including the roles of the speakers, learning how to rubuff / rebuke an argument , summarising and presenting an point of view with conviction.

Public Speaking

North Ward Campus (Years 7-12):
Public Speaking is similarly open to all students to engage in School-based heats for selection in interschool competitions which operate at a regional and whole state level.

Annandale Campus (Pre-Prep - Year 6):
The Annandale Campus has two large public speaking events in its calendar.  The Junior School Public Speaking competition is the culmination of the work students have completed in class in the Speaking and Listening strand of the English curriculum.  The final is held in the evening to allow parents and guest to come and enjoy the oratory talents of our young students.

This event is followed by the Townsville Grammar Interschool Public Speaking Competition. The top public speakers at the Junior School compete against the best Townsville has to offer at this highly competitive event.  Judges are kindly provided by Toastmasters and this is yet another opportunity for our students to shine.