New City College students make their mark at The Ethics Cup beating Eton on points

New City College students went head-to-head with some of the country’s most prestigious schools at The Ethics Cup competition – and came away proud of their performance, including beating Eton College on points.

A team of A Level Philosophy and Religious Studies students from New City College Havering Sixth Form took part in the London regional Ethics Cup, hosted at the London School of Economics (LSE).

They were competing against 12 leading London schools, including well-known public boarding schools such as Westminster School, St Paul’s School and Eton College, where famous former students include Prince William and Boris Johnson.

The Ethics Cup is no ordinary debating competition. Rather than trying to ‘win’ an argument, students are challenged to explore complex ethical dilemmas in depth – from the criminalisation of prostitution to the ethics of dog breeding. Teams must present balanced, thoughtful cases, respond critically to their opponents’ arguments and answer probing questions from academic judges, who award points based on the quality of reasoning and discussion.

Despite facing tough competition from London’s most academically selective schools, the 10 students representing New City College delivered a confident and impressive performance. One of the highlights was scoring more points than Eton College, a result the students were delighted with, although the team unfortunately didn’t make it to the overall final.

George Prinn, Subject Lead for A Level Philosophy and teacher of A Level Religious Studies, praised the students’ achievement and the impact of the experience.

He said: “The students gave an impressive performance. I am very proud that they scored more than Eton, and the judges were quick to commend their strong, thoughtful responses. They showed a real ability to think on their feet when faced with challenging questions.”

He added: “Experiences like The Ethics Cup are incredibly valuable for A Level students. They build confidence and public speaking skills, while helping students apply the critical thinking, open-mindedness and analytical skills they develop in Philosophy and Religious Studies.”

Students also spoke enthusiastically about what they gained from the competition. Timmy Jupp said taking part had been a hugely positive experience: “The Ethics Cup was amazing for developing my public speaking,” he said. “It really pushed me to think quickly and respond under pressure – skills that have helped me a lot in other debates too.”

Fellow student Alfey Kamara agreed. He added: “It was an incredible opportunity. If other students get the chance to take part, I’d definitely say go for it.”

The Ethics Cup experience highlights New City College’s commitment to stretching students academically and building confidence beyond the classroom.

If you are inspired by The Ethics Cup and interested in studying A Levels at New City College, find out more by attending an upcoming Open Event.

Open Events offer the chance to meet teachers, explore campuses and learn how A Levels such as Philosophy and Religious Studies help students develop the skills valued by top universities and employers.

Make your application to study A Levels at our Ofsted Outstanding College today!