Sixth-form students from six Oxfordshire schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters Oxford Champions 2025 in a day of debate hosted in partnership with St Edward’s, Oxford on Wednesday 26 November.
Group One Schools
Group Two Schools
09:15
Arrival, registration and refreshments
09:45
WELCOME in the Olivier Hall
10:00-11.10 | DEBATE 1:
Tech companies should act to stop online misinformation and hate
GROUP 1
Olivier Hall
AGAINST
King Edward VI
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Tim Abrahams
Emma Gilland
Dr Carole Sherwood
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Tyler Robinson
Jake Weston
GROUP 2
Old Library
AGAINST
St Edward’s School
CHAIR
Alastair Donald
JUDGES
Dr Elise Bant
David Bowden
Howard Sherwood
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Freya Laidlow Petersen
Laura Blumenthal
11:25-12:35 | DEBATE 2:
Humanity should fear advances in artificial intelligence
GROUP 1
Old Library
FOR
King Edward VI
AGAINST
Oxford International College
CHAIR
Alastair Donald
JUDGES
Tim Abrahams
Laura Blumenthal
Hilary Salt
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Tyler Robinson
Jake Weston
GROUP 2
Olivier Hall
FOR
St Edward’s School
AGAINST
St John’s Marlborough
CHAIR
Ella Whelan
JUDGES
Joel Cohen
Emma Gilland
Flora Letanka
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Freya Laidlow-Petersen
12:35-13:20 LUNCH
13:30-14:40 | DEBATE 3:
Trial by jury should be removed in certain cases
GROUP 1
Olivier Hall
FOR
Oxford International College
AGAINST
Leighton Park School
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Dr Marie Daouda
Dr Emily Ryall
Howard Sherwood
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Tyler Robinson
Jake Weston
GROUP 2
Old Library
FOR
St John’s Marlborough
AGAINST
Cirencester College
CHAIR
Hilary Salt
JUDGES
David Bowden
Flora Letanka
Dr Carole Sherwood
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Freya Laidlow-Petersen
Laura Blumenthal
14:40-15:00 REFRESHMENTS
AND RESULTS FROM THE GROUP STAGE DEBATES
15:00-16:30 | FINAL DEBATE:
Britain should pay reparations for its colonial past
Olivier Hall
FOR
Winner Group 1
AGAINST
Winner Group 2
CHAIR
Ella Whelan
JUDGES
Joel Cohen
Dr Marie Daouda
Dr Emily Ryall
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
All individual judges
WINNER: Leighton Park School