Winners -St Andrews University Ethics Cup Regional Round

Caterham School was proud to host—and win—the regional round of the St Andrews University Ethics Cup. This is the second time Caterham has reached the national final in the last four years.

Twelve teams from across the South, South-East, and South West of England competed in this unique event, where students from Years 10–13 (Fourth Year to Upper Sixth) tackled challenging ethical issues in a format that rewards thoughtful discussion rather than confrontational debate.

Unlike a traditional debating competition, the Ethics Cup is won by the team that shows the greatest breadth of perspective and responsiveness to feedback from both judges and opponents. Caterham School has excelled in this competition in recent years. In 2023, the team won the regional round and went on to compete in St Andrews, finishing among the top four schools nationally.

This year’s regional round tested competitors on topics ranging from banning books to the ethical implications of “secret” gift-swapping technology, true-crime television shows, and even the use of nuclear weapons. Below are excerpts from two Caterham pupils, Millie and Abi, who recount the excitement and tension of the day’s matches.

Millie (Lower Sixth)

“At the start of the day, it felt a bit absurd to hope that in the ‘Caterham School region’ of the Ethics Cup, Caterham School would actually win—but against all superstitious odds, we did! Our first match, at 9.30am against Reigate College, tested our views on banning books and how schools balance educating children while also safeguarding them. It came right down to the wire, with the judges split before ultimately awarding us the victory.

Next, the other half of our Caterham team presented on the ethics of Amazon’s new gift ‘swap’ patent—two out of three judges voted in our favour and we were all elated. After lunch, we faced Worth School in the semifinals, wrestling with the ethics of inheritance and institutional statements—again taking a 2–1 win to reach the final.

Reed’s were formidable opponents, discussing the ethical dilemmas of true-crime TV shows. We finished the day with a case on nuclear weapons titled ‘Doomsday Deterrence’. Yes, serial killers and nuclear war! Despite the sobering topic, we discovered new angles and argued them as best we could. When the final result was announced—another 2–1 in our favour—we were thrilled. We’re off to the finals in St Andrews!”

Abi (Fourth Year)

“We started the day by refreshing our notes in the Performing Arts Centre. Our first match against Reigate College, on the morality of banning books, ended in a close 2–1 victory. We watched another match before supporting our teammates discussing Amazon’s gift-swap patent—which they also won 2–1.

After lunch, we learned we had come top in our group and were through to the semifinals. Caterham took on Worth School, with the discussion centring on institutional statements, which is a tricky area. Our team rose to the challenge, ultimately defeating Worth for a place in the regional final.

In the final match against Reed’s, they offered a fascinating angle on true-crime TV shows, which was followed by our presentation on the moral implications of using nuclear weapons. Answering questions from Reed’s and the judges was tough, but we felt proud of our teamwork. The suspense was enormous when the results were announced—but another 2–1 win means we’re heading to St Andrews! I’m so excited to continue exploring these ethical debates in the national final!”

The event could not have gone ahead without the incredible support from current parents, Old Cats and friends of the school who generously volunteered their time to act as judges.  This was a vital role, that was great appreciated by all who took part.  Many thanks to these judges, staff, and all participating schools for creating an atmosphere of intellectual humility and collaborative thinking. The day showcased exactly what makes the Ethics Cup such a standout competition: reasoned, respectful discussion in pursuit of nuanced ethical understanding.

We now look forward to representing Caterham School once again in the national final at St Andrews, ready to continue our tradition of thoughtful inquiry and spirited teamwork.

Congratulations to our winners:

Millie B

Vivienne C

Namratha D

Rohan G

Abigail G

Florence R

George M

Harry M

Lia N

Meera V