January Championship 2021
After the great success of our autumn championships, Debating Matters gets the new year off to a flying start with another DM online competition.
In this third competition, sixth-form students from six schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters Online January Champions 2021 through a series of online debates across two weeks.
DEBATE 1: “In the digital age, we should not expect our online activities to remain private”
GROUP 1
Tues 26 January
14.00-15.30
AGAINST
Havering College
CHAIR
JUDGES
Sabine Beppler-Spahl
Luke Gittos
Michael Hollick
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Alastair Donald
GROUP 2
Weds 27 January
14.00-15.30
FOR
Gosforth Academy
AGAINST
Oundle School
CHAIR
JUDGES
Nicola Thomas
Martin Wright
Sean Bell
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Ella Whelan
DEBATE 2: “Corporate sponsorship is good for the arts”
GROUP 1
Weds 27 January
10.00-11.30
FOR
Havering College
AGAINST
University Technical College Norfolk
CHAIR
JUDGES
Shyama Perera
Austin Williams
Gabriella Swallow
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Mo Lovatt
GROUP 2
Thurs 28 January
14.00-15.30
FOR
Oundle School
AGAINST
St John Rigby College
CHAIR
JUDGES
Dr Yasmin Fitzpatrick
Ali Miraj
Beverley Briggs
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Geoff Kidder
DEBATE 3: “Unhealthy lifestyles are not the business of government”
GROUP 1
Thurs 28 January
10.00-11.30
FOR
University Technical College Norfolk
AGAINST
The Ecclesbourne School
CHAIR
JUDGES
Dr Emily Ryall
Dr Eliot Forster
Dr Joanna Williams
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Rob Lyons
GROUP 2
Fri 29 January
14.00-15.30
FOR
St John Rigby College
AGAINST
Gosforth Academy
CHAIR
JUDGES
Prof Simon Kay
Nikos Sotirakopoulos
Dr Pauline Hadaway
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Geoff Kidder
FINAL DEBATE: “Western museums should repatriate cultural artefacts”
Tues 2 February, 14.00-16.00
AGAINST
Gosforth Academy
CHAIR
JUDGES
Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert
Tim Abrahams
Prof Vicky Pryce
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Jacob Reynolds