Sixth-form students from six North West schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters North West Champions 2025 in a day of debate hosted in partnership with the Belonging Forum and Blackburn College on Wednesday 2 April
Group One
Group Two
09:45
Arrival, registration and refreshments
10:15
WELCOME
The Conference Centre
10:30-11.40 | DEBATE 1:
Smartphones should be banned in the classroom
GROUP 1
Conference Centre
FOR
Birkenhead High School Academy
AGAINST
Blackburn College
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Ian McKenna
Lynne Percival
Dr Chris Yianni
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
GROUP 2
Lecture Theatre
FOR
St Wilfrid’s C of E Academy
AGAINST
Oldham Schools
CHAIR
Alastair Donald
JUDGES
Rick Moore
Natasha Ricioppo
Ian Skillicorn
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
11:50-13:00 | DEBATE 2:
Humanity should fear advances in artificial intelligence
GROUP 1
Conference Centre
FOR
Blackburn College
AGAINST
Loreto College
CHAIR
Hilary Salt
JUDGES
Simon Belt
Ian McKenna
Paul Wight
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
GROUP 2
Lecture Theatre
FOR
Oldham Schools
AGAINST
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School
CHAIR
Geoff Kidder
JUDGES
Tallulah Eyres
Mark Iddon
Charlie Winstanley
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
13:00-13:50 LUNCH
14:00-15:10 | DEBATE 3:
We should build on the green belt
GROUP 1
Conference Centre
AGAINST
Birkenhead High School Academy
CHAIR
Alastair Donald
JUDGES
Prof Simon Kay OBE
Rick Moore
Lynne Percival
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
GROUP 2
Lecture Theatre
FOR
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School
AGAINST
St Wilfrid’s C of E Academy
CHAIR
Hilary Salt
JUDGES
Simon Belt
Dr Elizabeth Peatfield
Charlie Winstanley
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
15:10-15:30 REFRESHMENTS
AND RESULTS FROM THE GROUP STAGE DEBATES
15:30-17:00 | FINAL DEBATE:
Tech companies should act to stop online misinformation and hate speech
Conference Centre
FOR
Winner Group 1
AGAINST
Winner Group 2
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Prof Simon Kay OBE
Ian Skillicorn
Dr Chris Yianni
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
WINNER:
We are grateful to our partners & prize sponsors
