Students from the UK and the US battle it out to become champions of the first ever Debating Matters Transatlantic competition. The event takes part online on Saturday 1 March 2025. This programme is supported by the Rising Tide Foundation and is a partnership project between Ideas Matter and Bill of Rights Institute.
Group One
The Burgate School (UK)
Yankee Pankey (US)
Panthers (US)
Group Two
Oakwood Park Grammar (UK)
Oldham Schools (UK)
The Great Debaters (US)
08:45 EDT | 13:45 GMT
WELCOME
09:00 EDT | 14:00 GMT
DEBATE 1: Humanity should fear advances in artificial intelligence
Room 1
Room 2
FOR
The Burgate School
AGAINST
Yankee Pankey
CHAIR
Jacob Reynolds
CO-CHAIR
Tom Collyer
JUDGES
Dr Eliot Forster
David Isaacs
Bryce McColskey
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Frank Hudson
Eleanor Kavanagh-Brown
FOR
Oakwood Park Grammar
AGAINST
Oldham Schools
CHAIR
Rob Lyons
CO-CHAIR
Paul Thomas
JUDGES
Dr Jim Butcher
Simon Hankinson
Prof Ellie Lee
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Sonny Stewart
Sarah Tucker
10:20 EDT | 15:20 GMT
DEBATE 2: Tech companies should act to stop online misinformation
Room 1
Room 2
FOR
Yankee Pankey
AGAINST
Panthers
CHAIR
Tony Gilland
CO-CHAIR
Hilary Salt
JUDGES
Alastair Donald
Dr Nicholas Silk
Sally Taplin
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Frank Hudson
Eleanor Kavanagh-Brown
FOR
Oldham Schools
AGAINST
The Great Debaters
CHAIR
Tom Collyer
CO-CHAIR
Rob Lyons
JUDGES
Simon Belt
Michael Hollick
Ian Skillicorn
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Sonny Stewart
Sarah Tucker
11:40 EDT | 16:40 GMT
DEBATE 3: Smartphones should be banned in the classroom
Room 1
Room 2
FOR
Panthers
AGAINST
The Burgate School
CHAIR
Hilary Salt
CO-CHAIR
Tony Gilland
JUDGES
Adam Albazy
Dr Cheryl Hudson
Eleanor Kavanagh-Brown
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Frank Hudson
Eleanor Kavanagh-Brown
FOR
The Great Debaters
AGAINST
Oakwood Park Grammar
CHAIR
Paul Thomas
CO-CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Ethan Green
Sally Taplin
Austin Williams
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Sonny Stewart
Sarah Tucker
12:50 EDT | 17:50 GMT Break for lunch/dinner
13:15 EDT | 18:15 GMT Results from group stages
13:30 EDT | 18:30 GMT
FINAL: Cancel Culture is a threat to freedom of speech
Room 1
FOR
Winners of Group One
AGAINST
Winners of Group Two
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
CO-CHAIR
Jacob Reynolds
JUDGES
John Connor
Prof Ellie Lee
Dr. Jessica Temple
All individual judges
14:50 EDT | 19:50 GMT
RESULTS, WINNERS & THANKS
WINNERS: The Panthers
Debating Matters Transatlantic is a partnership project between Ideas Matter and Bill of Rights Institute.
We are grateful for the support of Rising Tide Foundation.
