Sixth-form students from six North East schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters Durham Champions 2024 at a day of debate hosted in partnership with the Durham Union Society on Thursday 13 June.
09:45
WELCOME
The Debating Chamber
10:00-11.10 | DEBATE 1:
Humanity should fear advances in artificial intelligence.
GROUP 1
Debating Chamber
AGAINST
Durham Johnston School
CHAIR
Alastair Donald
JUDGES
Oli Dawson
Dr Paula Lightfoot
Jake Unsworth
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Ben Daunter
Eleanor Kavanagh-Brown
Archie Mackesy
GROUP 2
Lecture Room 21
AGAINST
Gosforth Academy
CHAIR
Rob Lyons
JUDGES
Nigel Emmerson
Paul Thomas
Emma Zaoli
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Louise Brown
Jordan Kiss
Sonny Stewart
11:25-12:35 | DEBATE 2:
Assisted dying should be legalised.
GROUP 1
Lecture Room 21
FOR
Durham Johnston School
AGAINST
Teesdale School & Sixth Form
CHAIR
Ella Whelan
JUDGES
William Clouston
Oli Dawson
Dr Kyriakos Kotsoglou
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Ben Daunter
Eleanor Kavanagh-Brown
Archie Mackesy
GROUP 2
Debating Chamber
FOR
Gosforth Academy
AGAINST
Yarm School
CHAIR
Geoff Kidder
JUDGES
Adam Albazy
Dr Paula Lightfoot
David O’Toole
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Louise Brown
Jordan Kiss
Sonny Stewart
12:35-13:20 LUNCH
13:30-14:40 | DEBATE 3:
Corporate sponsorship is good for the arts.
GROUP 1
Debating Chamber
FOR
Teesdale School & Sixth Form
AGAINST
Barnard Castle School
CHAIR
Ella Whelan
JUDGES
George Carter
Eleanor Kavanagh-Brown
David O’Toole
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Ben Daunter
Eleanor Kavanagh-Brown
Archie Mackesy
GROUP 2
Lecture Room 21
FOR
Yarm School
AGAINST
Durham Sixth Form Centre
CHAIR
Alastair Donald
JUDGES
Professor Pauline Dixon
Kylie Lloyd
Paul Thomas
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Louise Brown
Jordan Kiss
Sonny Stewart
14:40-15:00 REFRESHMENTS
AND RESULTS FROM THE GROUP STAGE DEBATES
15:00-16:30 | FINAL DEBATE: Populism is a threat to democracy
Debating Chamber
FOR
Winners of Group 1
AGAINST
Winners of Group 2
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Adam Albazy
Anne Fergusson
Dr Caspar Hewett
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
All individual judges
WINNER: Yarm School
We are grateful to our partners & prize sponsors:
