In association with Blue Orchid Hospitality.
Sixth-form students from six schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters London Champions 2023 at a day of debate hosted at 55 Broadway, Westminster (1st Floor) on Thursday 6 July.
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
10:00-11.10 | DEBATE 1:
Billionaires owning media companies is bad for democracy
GROUP 1
(South Room, 1st Floor)
AGAINST
Harris Academy Chobham
CHAIR
Tom Collyer
JUDGES
Emily Carver
Joe Nutt
Prof Vicky Pryce
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Jack Barwell
Ethan Green
Vinay Kapoor
Emma Zaoli
GROUP 2
(North Room, 1st Floor)
AGAINST
Oundle School
CHAIR
Jacob Reynolds
JUDGES
Michael Hollick
Matthew Patten
Dr Maren Thom
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Felice Basbøll
Omar Loubak Mohammed
Leo Villa
11:25-12:35 | DEBATE 2:
We should accept the risks inherent in contact sports
GROUP 1
(South Room, 1st Floor)
FOR
Harris Academy Chobham
AGAINST
Cardinal Newman Catholic School
CHAIR
Alastair Donald
JUDGES
Joe Nutt
Ben Plimmer
Prof Vicky Pryce
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Jack Barwell
Ethan Green
Vinay Kapoor
Emma Zaoli
GROUP 2
(North Room, 1st Floor)
FOR
Oundle School
AGAINST
Richmond upon Thames College
CHAIR
Geoff Kidder
JUDGES
Steven Barrett
Dr Shirley Lawes
Adam Rawcliffe
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Felice Basbøll
Omar Loubak Mohammed
Leo Villa
12:35-13:20 LUNCH
13:30-14:40 | DEBATE 3:
The UK Government should legalise commercial surrogacy
GROUP 1
(South Room, 1st Floor)
FOR
Cardinal Newman Catholic School
AGAINST
Aylesbury Grammar School
CHAIR
Ella Whelan
JUDGES
Dr Piers Benn
Sophia Blackwell
Jo-Anne Nadler
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Jack Barwell
Ethan Green
Vinay Kapoor
Emma Zaoli
GROUP 2
(North Room, 1st Floor)
FOR
Richmond upon Thames College
AGAINST
The Grey Coat Hospital
CHAIR
Tom Collyer
JUDGES
Steven Barrett
Kathryn Bragg
Professor Ellie Lee
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Felice Basbøll
Omar Loubak Mohammed
Leo Villa
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
(South Room, 1st Floor)
AGAINST
The Grey Coat Hospital
CHAIR
Dr Mo Lovatt
JUDGES
Dr Piers Benn
Dr Jan Macvarish
Dr Maren Thom
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
All individual judges
16:30 – 17:15 RESULTS, PRIZE-GIVING & THANKS
WINNER: Aylesbury Grammar School
We are grateful to our partners & prize sponsors
