In addition to the regional, national and international tournaments Debating Matters organises, many DM schools host their own DM competitions, locally around the UK. Schools can download our acclaimed Topic Guides for free and visit our Get Involved page for advice on how to put on a Debating Matters competition. Our unique DM format has proven popular with schools and debaters because of its:
- Focus on substance over style debating
- Emphasis on conducting in-depth research
- Situating debates in the real world – as they are discussed in politics and the media.
If you would like more advice on setting up your own DM competition, please don’t hesitate to contact us at mo@ideasmatter.org.uk . We are happy to advise on any aspect of running a competition, can recommend judges and chair persons as well as offering support with certificates and prize-giving.
November 2024
Royal Armouries Sixth Form Debating Competition 2024
in association with Leeds Salon
November 2024
Newcastle Schools Debating Matters Championship 2024
October 2024
Oldham Schools Debating Matters Championship 2024
Inspired by Debating Matters
Debating Matters hosts competitions across the UK and holds a championship in Berlin every year. We have worked in a range of international settings and inspired projects far and wide, including the 2024 Debating Matters Transatlantic project.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to partner with Debating Matters on a joint project where substance-over-style debating is your inspiration!
DMGBIN
In 2020, the former director of Debating Matters and current curriculum manager for Mathematics at MidKent College, Tony Gilland, developed a highly successful new pilot debating tournament between schools in India and in the UK. DMGBIN was inspired by his work at Debating Matters and has continued to provide international debating tournaments throughout the lockdown with more activities planned for the coming year. For more information, please email Tony at tony.s.gilland@gmail.com.
The Leeds Salon
The Leeds Salon is a public discussion group founded in 2009 by Michele Ledda and Paul Thomas which meets regularly to discuss political, cultural and scientific issues. Leeds Salon aims to challenge orthodoxies, and to defend and develop the legacy of the Enlightenment. Since 2014, The Leeds Salon has also run its own school debating competitions using the Debating Matters format, including its flagship annual Years 10&11 competition. Since 2023 it has partnered with the Royal Armouries Museum (Leeds) to run its annual sixth form competition.