Although we are only a few weeks into term, the Cheltenham Educational Partnership events are already up and running, and this year Balcarras are getting involved in more projects than ever.  

This week we have already seen the Balcarras team of Y8s and Y10s (ably supported this year by Mr Lane) taking part in the first workshop, hosted by Cheltenham Ladies College, of the 2026/27 Changemakers project which challenges schools to consider ways in which they could make their school environment more sustainable. As with most CEP projects, there will be a number of workshops throughout the winter and spring, which will then culminate in the students launching their projects at an event at the Wilson Gallery next summer.

Then on Thursday Bournside hosted the final Great Debate of 2026. Originally scheduled to take place in July, but postponed because of the heat(!), the questions were all based around the very 'hot' topic of AI. The event was supported by the Cheltenham Festivals who had also arranged for two AI experts, one of whom works for Severn Trent and the other for Amazon Web Services, to come along and talk to the students about their roles and how AI is adding real benefit to their businesses. They then also formed part of the judging panel.

The Balcarras Y11 team were up against Pate's Grammar School, debating a question around AI and creativity (This house believes that AI will enhance our creativity in ways we cannot even imagine) and our Y12 team, some of whom have just joined in the Sixth Form, were up against the hosts Bournside, with their topic looking at AI and personal relationships (This house believes that AI scamming will increase as people can't tell who is AI or real). As ever, the debates were highly entertaining and really well researched, and the feedback from the judges was particularly positive. However, with the 2027 Great Debate program about to start afresh with an event in November, it was also pleasing that the judges awarded both debates to Balcarras!