Sixth-form students from six schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters Durham Champions 2023 at a day of debate hosted at the Durham Union Society on Thursday 8 June.
The competition is part of 20 for 20 – the 20th Anniversary programme of the competition – which will see 20 exciting events taking place across the year.
09:45
WELCOME
The Debating Chamber
10:00-11.10 | DEBATE 1:
Billionaires owning media companies is bad for democracy
GROUP 1
Debating Chamber
AGAINST
Durham Sixth Form Centre
CHAIR
Alastair Donald
JUDGES
Anna Disley
Prof Tim Luckhurst
Jake Unsworth
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Emma Zaoli
GROUP 2
Lecture Room 21
FOR
Yarm School
AGAINST
Durham Johnston School
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Richard Moss
Rebecca Wilkie
Prof Kevin Yuill
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Ben Daunter
Dr Caspar Hewett
11:25-12:35 | DEBATE 2:
Healthcare workers should not be allowed to strike
GROUP 1
Lecture Room 21
FOR
Durham Sixth Form Centre
AGAINST
Gosforth Academy
CHAIR
Tom Collyer
JUDGES
William Clouston
Eileen Perrie
Jake Unsworth
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Emma Zaoli
GROUP 2
Debating Chamber
FOR
Durham Johnston School
AGAINST
The Grammar School at Leeds
CHAIR
Geoff Kidder
JUDGES
Adam Albazy
Dr Caspar Hewett
Dr Paula Lightfoot
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Ben Daunter
Prof Kevin Yuill
12:35-13:20 LUNCH
13:30-14:40 | DEBATE 3:
The UK Government should legalise commercial surrogacy
GROUP 1
Debating Chamber
AGAINST
Barnard Castle School
CHAIR
Tom Collyer
JUDGES
Nigel Emmerson
Richard Moss
Eileen Perrie
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Emma Zaoli
GROUP 2
Lecture Room 21
FOR
The Grammar School at Leeds
AGAINST
Yarm School
CHAIR
Alastair Donald
JUDGES
Dr Caspar Hewett
Dr Paula Lightfoot
Alex McDermott
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Ben Daunter
Prof Kevin Yuill
14:40-15:00 REFRESHMENTS
AND RESULTS FROM THE GROUP STAGE DEBATES
15:00-16:30 | FINAL DEBATE: Cancel Culture is a threat to freedom of speech
Debating Chamber
AGAINST
The Grammar School at Leeds
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Prof Tim Luckhurst
Rebecca Wilkie
Prof Kevin Yuill
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Ben Daunter
Dr Caspar Hewett
Geoff Kidder
Emma Zaoli
WINNER: Durham Sixth Form Centre
We are grateful to our partners & prize sponsors
