ALLORA State School's debating teams have gone from strength to strength over the past few years with both teams this year winning three out of four debates to earn a finals berth in the Queensland Debating Union, Toowoomba Region, 2013 Competition.

Our year 9 Allora team, Ella Harrison, Sally Higgins, Henry Gartery and Arien Westerman were one of 26 teams in the Toowoomba debating competition this year and will argue it out against 12 other teams for a place in the grand final.

During the season, this talented Allora team won their first debate against Toowoomba's St Ursula's College with the negative side of the topic - "That we should introduce a tax on junk food".

They also won their "secret" topic debate "that we should force students to learn an indigenous language" against Harristown State High School as well as their round 4 debate against Toowoomba Grammar School arguing that "we should ban factory farming".

In the year 10 competition, 18 teams from across the Darling Downs have been battling it out to get into the quarter-finals.

Our year 10 team, Darcey Liesegang, Erin Weier, Dakota Turnbull and Jack Bannister are now preparing their case against Toowoomba's Fairholme College in the first debate for the eight teams that have made it through to the quarter-finals.

During the round robin competition, the year 10 team had convincing wins against Toowoomba's Downlands College, Toogoolawah State High School and Assumption College from Warwick.

Should anyone wish to attend the debates and see the Allora State School teams in action, the first quarter-final debate will be held on July 31 at St. Josephs College, 54 James St, Toowoomba.

The year 10s will debate the topic, "that we should reduce prison sentences in exchange for completion of education qualifications" with Fairholme College and the year 9 team will argue "that the school curriculum should not include compulsory education on outback Australia" against Warwick State High School.