About Debating Matters
Debating Matters because ideas matter. This is the premise of the Debating Matters Competition, which emphasises debaters’ knowledge and clear thinking over points of order and rhetorical flourishes. By debating real-world issues, students are introduced to key controversies at the top of the public agenda. Using the acclaimed Debating Matters Topic Guides, the competition challenges school pupils to go beyond the media headlines and delve deeper into the biggest issues confronting society.
How is Debating Matters different?
You might already do debating or public speaking at your school. If so, great. But Debating Matters is by design different to other forms of debating which are predominantly about public speaking. In brief, Debating Matters:
— Focuses on ‘substance over style’, and judges teams on who has the best arguments and research, not who has the most flowery rhetoric
— Encourages pupils to research topics well in advance using carefully produced ‘topic guides’
— Situates real-world debates as they are discussed in politics and the media
— Involves eminent judges in questioning the debaters and putting them on the spot to justify their argument
Where can I sign up?
Take a look at our events page to learn about upcoming events, or head to get involved to find resources for setting up debates in your school.
Debating Matters is a project of Ideas Matter. Find out more about the charity here. The competition was previously initiated by the Academy of Ideas.
Looking for an older topic or debate? Our archive with over 15 years of DM Topic Guides is available here.
DEBATING MATTERS TRANSATLANTIC
In November 2026, three teams from the US will come to London to compete against three teams from the UK in a full day of high-level debates. Students will also get the chance to visit the Palace of Westminster, watch a live debate on whether the UK and US are living up to the ideals of their founders and explore cultural and historic sites across the city. The event will be hosted by Debating Matters in partnership with the Bill of Rights Institute, with support from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation.