Debating Matters comes to the House of Lords for the third time

On Friday 21 March, four schools from the north, south, east and west of England, competed in the Debating Matters House of Lords Championship 2025.  This was the third visit to the House of Lords for DM and students from each of the four schools rose to the occasion as they challenged each other in a range of contemporary debates, such as ‘Humanity should fear advances in artificial intelligence’ and ‘We should build on the green belt‘.

Newly updated Topic Guides were given to the students in advance, to prepare for their debates.  Each of these included bespoke information from the Lords Library giving details of when these debates had taken place in the upper chamber, briefings and committee reports. DM has always striven to introduce students to topics at the top of the social and political agenda and this championship was no exception.

Students from Aylesbury Grammar, Abbey Grange, Congleton High and Thomas Tallis School found it fascinating to be debating such contemporary issues in the same rooms where many of the upper chamber’s committee hearings take place. And the final was no exception as Aylesbury Grammar and Thomas Tallis took on the thorny issue of ‘Assisted dying should be legalised‘ – proving, not for the first time, that sixth formers, armed with strong research and robust debating skills, can grapple with complex issues with nuance and strong conviction, often far better than some parliamentarians! We asked the participating students why they felt debating matters and how the event at the House of Lords inspired them:

‘Debating matters because you get challenged on your own ideas and convictions about the world. That’s what’s important about moving forward as an individual, what are your convictions and beliefs, and how does that motivate you to act?’
Anthony Unugboke, student, Aylesbury Grammar School

The event was supported by the House of Lords Engagement team with members Lord Borwick, Baroness Vere of Norbiton and Lord Wood of Anfield helped to judge the debates, alongside Dr Shahrar Ali, Dr Tiffany Jenkins, Dr Jim Panton and Jane Sandeman. Prizes were awarded by Baroness Fox of Buckley, Claire Fox.

Schools, including guests from Verulam School, enjoyed debating over lunch in the Cholmondeley Room, overlooking the Thames, and were taken on a tour of the House of Lords.

Each of the competing schools and guest school Verulam had a personalised tour of the House of Lords
(c) House of Lords 2025 / photos by Roger Harris

In the end, there can only be one winner and that honour was awarded to Aylesbury Grammar School who faced stiff competition from Thomas Tallis School in the final, but impressed the judges with their impassioned argument for making assisted dying legal in the UK.

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