By Mrs Barber (Head of Business and Economics)

On Saturday 9 November, Mrs Sadler (Head of History and Politics) and I accompanied eight Lower Sixth students to Guildford for a Model United Nations (MUN) Conference at the Royal Grammar School (RGS).

This was the first time BGS had attended this event, which brought together over 240 students from 22 schools to debate topics of global significance. The committees were divided into beginner, intermediate, and experienced levels, providing an excellent opportunity for three of our students, Asha Kirkpatrick, Moksha Sunkara, and Issy Rammal, who were new to MUN. Our experienced delegates, Mitali Misra, Sonia Erwig, Mia Vadgama, Naawal Qazi, and Isra Aslam, engaged actively in their committees, navigating the complexities of representing Myanmar. 

In the afternoon, the General Assembly introduced a crisis event in which the President of China disappeared, prompting country delegations to work together and respond as new information emerged. 

Naawal Qazi shared her reflection from the day: “After attending RGS MUN for the first time, our group unanimously agreed that it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The event was well organised, striking a perfect balance between humour and skill development. It provided a valuable platform for enhancing our public speaking, analytical, and collaborative abilities. This was reflected in Asha Kirkpatrick receiving a highly commended award in her first conference, as well as Naawal Qazi’s outstanding delegate award.

“Our group was also highly commended for participation in the General Assembly, which was a fantastic achievement. One of the highlights of the experience was the morning’s serious and thought-provoking debates, where each delegate represented a country and upheld their assigned nation’s policies. For example, we had the unique challenge of defending Myanmar’s stance on human rights—a difficult task, given that the United Nations’ primary mission is to uphold and protect these rights.

“The afternoon brought a lighter tone, with debates covering humorous topics such as sending France and the French people to Mars. Overall, the event was an excellent opportunity for growth and learning, and we left with increased confidence in our debating skills and teamwork.”