Events

June Public Policy Championship

This is the second of three Public Policy Championships organised in association with PERT. The aim is for students to debate issues of contemporary relevance to public policy issues in the UK today. The winners will be crowned DM June Public Policy Champions.

DEBATE 1: “Universal basic income is not a solution to our social and economic problems“

DEBATE 3: “Vaccine passports benefit society“

FINAL DEBATE: “Western museums should repatriate cultural artefacts“

Tuesday 29 June, 14.00-16.00

FOR
Invicta Grammar School

AGAINST
Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School

CHAIR
Jacob Reynolds

JUDGES
Nat Edwards
Dr Pauline Hadaway
Michael Olatokun

WINNER: Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School

April Public Policy Championship

This is the first of three Public Policy Championships organised in association with PERT. The aim is for students to debate issues of contemporary relevance to public policy issues in the UK today. The winners will be crowned DM April Public Policy Champions.

DEBATE 1: “The UK should reduce its Foreign Aid budget“

DEBATE 2: “Vaccine passports benefit society”

DEBATE 3: “Unhealthy lifestyles are not the business of government”

FINAL DEBATE: “Monuments to controversial historical figures should remain“

Friday 30 April, 14.00-16.00

FOR
Barnard Castle School

AGAINST
Burnley College

CHAIR

Mo Lovatt

JUDGES
Michael Hollick
Ali Miraj
Alka Sehgal-Cuthbert

WINNER: Barnard Castle School

February Championship 2021

After the great success of our online Debating Matters championships in the UK, we are delighted to host the first-ever Berlin Debating Matters Online in February.

In this competition, students from six Berlin schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters Online February Champions 2021 through a series of online debates across two weeks.

DEBATE 1: “In the digital age, we should not expect our online activities to remain private”

DEBATE 2: Populism is a threat to democracy

DEBATE 3: “Unhealthy lifestyles are not the business of government”

FINAL DEBATE: “Monuments to Controversial Historical Figures Should Remain“

Do 18 Februar, 14.00-16.00

FOR
Humboldt-Gymnasium

AGAINST
Hans-Carossa-Gymnasium

CHAIR
Jacob Reynolds

JUDGES
John Battersby
Julia Dannemann-Freitag
Shirley Lawes

INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Mo Lovatt

January Championship 2021

After the great success of our autumn championships, Debating Matters gets the new year off to a flying start with another DM online competition.

In this third competition, sixth-form students from six schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters Online January Champions 2021 through a series of online debates across two weeks.

DEBATE 1: “In the digital age, we should not expect our online activities to remain private”

DEBATE 2: “Corporate sponsorship is good for the arts”

DEBATE 3: “Unhealthy lifestyles are not the business of government”

FINAL DEBATE: “Western museums should repatriate cultural artefacts”

Tues 2 February, 14.00-16.00

FOR
The Ecclesbourne School

AGAINST
Gosforth Academy

CHAIR

Mo Lovatt

JUDGES
Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert
Tim Abrahams
Prof Vicky Pryce

INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
Jacob Reynolds

December Championship 2020

Debating Matters will go online this Autumn with two six-school championships in November and in December.

In this second competition, sixth-form students from six schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters Online December Champions 2020 through a series of online debates across two weeks.

DEBATE 1: “Social egg freezing empowers women“

DEBATE 2: “In the digital age, we should not expect our online activities to remain private”

DEBATE 3: “Unhealthy lifestyles are not the business of government”

FINAL DEBATE: “Britain should pay reparations for its colonial past“

Tues 8 December, 14.00-16.00

FOR
Barnard Castle

AGAINST
Queen Mary’s College

CHAIR

Mo Lovatt

JUDGES

Eileen Atkins
Calvin Robinson
Nat Edwards

INDIVIDUAL JUDGES

November Championship 2020

Debating Matters will go online this Autumn with two six-school championships in November and in December.

In the first competition, sixth-form students from six schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters Online November Champions 2020 through a series of online debates across two weeks.

We are delighted to thank Hodder Education and Oxford University Press for their continued involvement as prize partners.

DEBATE 1: Climate Emergency: “People should not have more than two children”

DEBATE 2: “Humanity should fear advances in artificial intelligence”

DEBATE 3: “Unhealthy lifestyles are not the business of government”

FINAL DEBATE: “Monuments to controversial historical figures should remain“

Tues 24 November, 14.00-16.00

FOR
Sherborne School for Girls

AGAINST
Maidstone Grammar School

CHAIR

Mo Lovatt

JUDGES

Nat Edwards
Pauline Hadaway
Michael Olatokun

INDIVIDUAL JUDGES

During the coronavirus pandemic, we took Debating Matters online to provide a way to keep pupils intellectually engaged, and to support teachers with resources and activities for their students.

This page is a record of all the debates that were held. Read more about it all here.

Tues 21 April
DEBATE 1: SOCIAL MEDIA SITES SHOULD FILTER OUT FAKE NEWS

FOR

Exeter College
Competing students:
Stephen, studying maths, further maths and computer science
Tom, studying geography sociology and politics

AGAINST

Cardiff Sixth Form College
Competing students:
Paul, studying maths, further maths, economics and history
Izzy, studying chemistry, physics, maths and further maths

CHAIR

Jacob Reynolds

JUDGES

Jake Unsworth, solicitor, Womble Bond Dickinson

Dr Jan MacVarish, visiting research fellow, Centre for Parenting Culture Studies, University of Kent; author, Neuroparenting: the expert invasion of family life

Simon Warr, communications director, NATS

WINNERS: Cardiff Sixth Form College

Tues 21 April
DEBATE 2: “CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS SHOULD BE COMPULSORY”

FOR

Cirencester College
Competing students:
Otylia, studying biology, law and business
Laurence, studying chemistry, biology and maths                                        

AGAINST

Havering College
Competing students:
Isabel, studying politics, history and maths              
Harry, studying film studies, english literature and history

CHAIR

Mo Lovatt

JUDGES

Tom Bristow, researcher, Children and Families, National Centre for Social Research.

Dr Ann Furedi, chief executive, British Pregnancy Advisory Service; author, The Moral Case For Abortion.

Dr Nicholas Silk, insurance supervisor, Bank of England.

WINNERS: Havering College

Tues 28 April
DEBATE 3: “HUMANITY SHOULD FEAR ADVANCES IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE“

FOR

Magdalen College School
Competing students:
Cara studying history, politics, maths and further maths
William studying politics, economics, maths and history                                

AGAINST:

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School
Competing students:
Molly studying politics, history and biology
Ishani studying politics, sociology and geography

CHAIR

Jacob Reynolds

JUDGES

David Bowden, global communications manager, PWC

Roy Lilley, health policy analyst, writer, broadcaster and commentator

Sarah Pinch, Chart.PR, FCIPR, MIoD

WINNERS: Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School

Thurs 30 April
DEBATE 4: “CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS SHOULD BE COMPULSORY“

FOR

Queen’s School, Bushey
Competing student:
Hope

AGAINST:

Exeter College|
Competing students:
Ryan                                                 
Leo

CHAIR

Alastair Donald

JUDGES

Chris Yianni, senior lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University

Greg Lowden, office of the Group Chairman, HSBC

Timandra Harkness, writer; comedian; broadcaster; author, Big Data: does size matter?

WINNERS: Exeter College

Tues 5 May
DEBATE 5: “BRITAIN SHOULD PAY REPARATIONS FOR ITS COLONIAL PAST“

FOR

Thornhill College, Derry
Competing students:
Amy
Catilin

AGAINST:

East London Science School
Competing students:
KC
Nimat

CHAIR

Ella Whelan

JUDGES

Anne Fergusson, financial services and private equity advisor and investor

Tegan Lucas, engineer; student

Dr Kevin Yuill, associate professor in history, University of Sunderland

WINNERS: Thornhill College, Derry

Thursday 7 May
DEBATE 6: “MONUMENTS TO CONTROVERSIAL HISTORICAL FIGURES SHOULD REMAIN“

FOR

Durham High School for Girls
Competing students:
Jenny
Izzy

AGAINST

St Edward’s School, Oxford
Competing students:
Alex
Leo

CHAIR

Jacob Reynolds

JUDGES

Baroness Natalie Bennett, Green Peer; former leader of the Green Party of England and Wales

Penny Lewis, lecturer, University of Dundee; leader, joint architecture programme, University of Dundee and University of Wuhan in China.

Jon O’Brien, independent political consultant; former director, Catholics for Choice

WINNERS: St Edward’s School Oxford

Thursday 21 May
DEBATE 7: “MONUMENTS TO CONTROVERSIAL HISTORICAL FIGURES SHOULD REMAIN“

FOR

St George’s College, Weybridge
Competing Students:
Josh
Sebastian

AGAINST

Queen’s School, Bushey
Competing students:
Thomas
Poppy

CHAIR

Jacob Reynolds

JUDGES

Nat Edwards, CEO, Thackray Medical Museum

Ralph Leighton, retired course leader PGSE citizenship education, Canterbury Christ Church

Vicky Pryce, chief economic adviser and board member, Centre for Economics and Business Research; author, Women vs Capitalism

WINNERS: Queens School, Bushey

DM Championships return to Berlin on Thursday 27 February, in partnership with Freiblickinstitut e.V. and hosted by University of Applied Sciences Europe. Twelve schools will battle to become Debating Matters Berlin Champions 2020.

Freiblickinstitut organises debates on important topics from politics, society, economy, science and art.

The University of Applied Sciences Europe is a private, state-approved university that offers uniquely international perspectives, interdisciplinary and practice-based teaching, innovation, and future-oriented skills development.

09:00 REGISTRATION AND COFFEE

09:30 WELCOME

09:50
DEBATE 1: ‘CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP IS GOOD FOR THE ARTS’

11:05
DEBATE 2: CLIMATE EMERGENCY: ‘PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE MORE THAN TWO CHILDREN’

12:20
DEBATE 3: ‘SOCIAL EGG FREEZING EMPOWERS WOMEN’

13:30
LUNCH

14:30
RESULTS

15:00
SEMI-FINALS: ‘CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS SHOULD BE COMPULSORY’

16:20
AFTERNOON TEA-BREAK

16:40
FINAL DEBATE: ‘GERMANY SHOULD PAY REPARATIONS FOR ITS COLONIAL PAST’

CHAIR

Jacob Reynolds

JUDGES

Ella Whelan

Ingo Way

Julia Dannemann-Freitag

ALL INDIVIDUAL JUDGES

18:00
RESULTS AND THANK-YOUS

Sixth-form students from eight schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters Southampton Champions 2020 at a flagship day of debate on Wednesday 5 February. We are delighted to be hosted once more by Solent University and working in partnership with NATS.

09:30
REGISTRATION

10:05
WELCOME

10:20-11:30
DEBATE 1: “Corporate sponsorship is good for the arts”

11:40-12:50
DEBATE 2: “Childhood vaccinations should be compulsory”

12:50-13:50
LUNCH

13:50-15:00
DEBATE 3: Climate emergency: “People should have no more than two children”

15:00-15:20
BREAK

15:20-17:00
RESULTS AND FINAL DEBATE: “Western museums should repatriate cultural artefacts”

17:00-17:30
PRESENTATIONS

Sixth-form students from eight schools will battle it out for the title of Debating Matters South West Champions 2020 at a flagship day of debate on Thursday 23 January. We are delighted to be hosted once more by Sherborne Girls School.

09:30
REGISTRATION

10:05
WELCOME

10:30-11:40
DEBATE 1: Climate emergency: “People should not have more than two children”

11:50-13:00
DEBATE 2: “Autonomous vehicles will make driving safer”

13:00-14:00
LUNCH

14:00-15:10
DEBATE 3: “Childhood vaccinations should be compulsory”

15:10-15:30
BREAK

15:30-17:10
RESULTS AND FINAL DEBATE: “Western museums should repatriate cultural artefacts“

17:10-17:40
PRESENTATIONS