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 Zaoili
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
David O’Toole
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
Nigel Emmerson
Eileen Perrie
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Emma Zaoili
GROUP 2
Debating Chamber
FOR
Durham Johnston School
AGAINST
The Grammar School at Leeds
CHAIR
Geoff Kidder
JUDGES
Adam Albazy
Jon Bryan
Dr Paula Lightfoot
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
David O’Toole
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
Richard Moss
Eileen Perrie
Jake Unsworth
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Emma Zaoili
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
David O’Toole
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
FOR
Winner of Group 1
AGAINST
Winner of Group 2
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Prof Tim Luckhurst
Rebecca Wilkie
Prof Kevin Yuill
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
All individual judges
Geoff Kidder
WINNER:
We are grateful to our partners & prize sponsors
