School Debating In Scotland
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School debating in Scotland is a competitive activity taken up on an extracurricular basis by many
school A school is the educational institution (and, in the case of in-person learning, the Educational architecture, building) designed to provide learning environments for the teaching of students, usually under the direction of teachers. Most co ...
s across the country. The main format of schools debating in Scotland is
British Parliamentary Style British Parliamentary style is a major form of academic debate that originated in Liverpool in the mid 1800s. It has gained wide support globally and is the official format of the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC). Rules British P ...
, and competitions in this format are mostly run by universities across Scotland, although more national university competitions, such as Oxford and Cambridge, hold regional rounds in Scotland as well. The BP format of debating consists of teams of two from individual schools. However, School
debate Debate is a process that involves formal discourse, discussion, and oral addresses on a particular topic or collection of topics, often with a moderator and an audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for opposing viewpoints. Historica ...
rs also have the opportunity to debate in the Worlds format of debating, if they are selected to represent their country as Team Scotland at the
World Schools Debating Championships The World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) is an annual English-language debating tournament for high school-level teams representing different nations. History The championships were first held in August 1988 in Australia, as part of the ...
. Each year, twenty-four school pupils are chosen to trial and from this group a team of four is chosen. Scotland has won this tournament five times, in 1990, 1999, 2007, 2012 and 2024. They reached the outrounds of the competition every year since they began competing in it, except in the 2013 tournament, held in Antalya, Turkey.


The Law Society Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament

This competition, organised by the
Law Society of Scotland The Law Society of Scotland () is the professional governing body for Scottish solicitors. Its goal is to promote excellence among solicitors through the support and regulation of its members. It is also committed to promoting the interests ...
, is a Scottish school debating competition, with the trophy currently held by the 2024 winners, Finlay Sayers and Sarah Pym of Broxburn Academy. The tournament is currently sponsored by the Glasgow Bar Association and Simpson and Warwick Solicitors. The 2007 final was won by
Craigmount High School Craigmount High School is a non-denominational secondary school in Edinburgh, Scotland with 1,269 pupils located in the west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is situated between Corstorphine, East Craigs and Drumbrae and it moved into new premises a ...
of Edinburgh and chaired by
Nicola Sturgeon Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon (born 19 July 1970) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2014 to 2023. She has served as a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) sin ...
MSP. The
High School of Dundee The High School of Dundee is a private, co-educational, day school in Dundee, Scotland, which provides nursery, primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils. Its foundation has been dated to 1239, and it is the only private sc ...
finished second. The 2008 final was won by Joanna Farmer and Michael Sim of
Robert Gordon's College Robert Gordon's College is a co-educational private school for day pupils in Aberdeen, Scotland. The school caters for pupils from Nursery through to S6. History Background Robert Gordon, an Aberdeen merchant, made his fortune in 18th cent ...
, and the High School of Dundee again finished second. In 2009, Allen Farrington and Cosmo Grant from The Glasgow Academy won the trophy. In 2010, the trophy was retained by The Glasgow Academy by Séamus Macdonald McGuigan and Oscar Lee. Craigmount High School dominated the early 2010s, winning the trophy in both 2012 and 2014. In 2015, Jamie MacLeod and Ewan Redpath of Madras College, St Andrews, won the competition. The 2016 final was won by Finlay Allmond and Caitlin Sherret of Nairn Academy. In 2017 Douglas Academy won the final. Peebles High School won in 2018, 2020 and 2021- this makes them and Craigmount High School tied for the most Donald Dewar victories (Craigmounts’ victories being previously stated). The 2019 winners were Bearsden Academy, breaking up the Peebles victories, and the runners up were Balfron Academy. Fortrose Academy won in 2022, with the High School of Glasgow winning second place. In 2023 the winning team was Broxburn Academy’s Emma Bell and Ruby Ferguson, with the runners up being from Balfron. Broxburn won again in 2024, the winning team being Finlay Sayers and Sarah Pym, with Balfron coming second.


The Courier and Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland Schools Junior Debating Competition

This competition is organised by the
Courier A courier is a person or organization that delivers a message, package or letter from one place or person to another place or person. Typically, a courier provides their courier service on a commercial contract basis; however, some couriers are ...
newspaper, and is open to Junior school debaters in the area covered by the newspaper. It is sponsored by the
Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland The Chartered Banker Institute was established in 1875 and is the oldest professional banking institute in the world and the only remaining banking institute in the UK. It aims to help rebuild public confidence in banks and bankers by developi ...
. The competition is in an extended BP format, with three teams on each side rather than the more usual two, and is run on a knock-out basis, with 72 original teams being reduced to six finalists over the course of preparation rounds. Many schools compete for the grand prize, from all over Scotland. The Grand Final is run, with the help of the
University of St Andrews The University of St Andrews (, ; abbreviated as St And in post-nominals) is a public university in St Andrews, Scotland. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland and, f ...
Union Debating Society, in Lower Parliament Hall, St Andrews, with the winners receiving a trip to America, and the runners-up a break in London. In the 2002 Grand Final, the judges deemed that the quality of debate was so high that all competing teams were given honorary membership in the University of St Andrews Union Debating Society. Winners of the 2006/2007 competition were Shona Young and Kirsty Paterson-Hunter of Kinross High School, who spoke in opposition to the motion that 'This House Would Ban Non-Reconstructive Cosmetic Surgery' winning on a unanimous vote. The runners-up were Marianne Inglis and Catherine Lovegrove from
Morrison's Academy Morrison's Academy is a co-educational private day school in Crieff, Perth and Kinross, in Central Scotland. The school provides nursery, primary and secondary school facilities. It draws many pupils from surrounding Perth and Kinross and ...
, who argued for the motion. Winners of the 2007/2008 competition were Emma Robertson and Ruth Thomson of Morrison's Academy, Crieff. The motion was "This House would ban Gambling" and the team successfully opposed the motion and won an all expenses paid trip to America. Among the finalists were a team from Robert Gordon's, two Morrison's teams, and a team from St John's. For the 2009-'10 season, the competition will not run, and its future looks to be in turmoil since the main sponsor (CIOBS) pulled out. However, a new competition has been formed to replace it, run with the support of GSK. It started in the spring of 2010. The new competition, the East of Scotland Debater, has since started. Regional heats have taken place, and the final will be held on 4 June in St Andrews University's Parliament Hall. The finalists were Robert Gordon's College, Morrison's Academy, the High School of Dundee, and Forfar Academy.


The ESU Scotland Juniors Competition

The largest competition in Scotland for S1-S3 debaters is run by the
English-Speaking Union Scotland The English-Speaking Union Scotland (ESU Scotland) is an educational Scottish charity whose purpose, shared with the English-Speaking Union internationally, is to promote international understanding and human achievements through the widening use ...
. The 2006/7 competition received 113 entries. The competition is in BP format, with four teams of two competing in the debate. The 2007 grand final took place in the
National Galleries of Scotland The National Galleries of Scotland (, sometimes also known as National Galleries Scotland) is the executive non-departmental public body that controls the three national galleries of Scotland and two partner galleries, forming one of the Nation ...
. The winners were Georgina Barker and Hannah Mackaness of
George Heriot's School George Heriot's School is a private primary and secondary day school on Lauriston Place in the Lauriston area of Edinburgh, Scotland. In the early 21st century, it has more than 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff, and 80 non-teaching staff. It was ...
. The other finalists were Emma Robertson and Catherine Lovegrove of Morrison's Academy, who were the runners-up, as well as St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School and
Dumfries Academy Dumfries Academy is one of four secondary schools in Dumfries in south west Scotland. It is a state funded secondary school for both girls and boys. The schools moto is "doctrina promovet" which translates from Latin to "learning promotes" which ...
. The 2012 Grand Final took place in the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( ; ) is the Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. It is located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood area of Edinburgh, and is frequently referred to by the metonym 'Holyrood'. ...
building. The finalists were teams from George Heriot's School, Mearns Castle High School, Grove Academy and St. Columba's School. The final was won by the team from St Columba's. The 2014 Grand Final also took place in the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( ; ) is the Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. It is located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood area of Edinburgh, and is frequently referred to by the metonym 'Holyrood'. ...
building. The finalists were teams from
George Heriot's School George Heriot's School is a private primary and secondary day school on Lauriston Place in the Lauriston area of Edinburgh, Scotland. In the early 21st century, it has more than 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff, and 80 non-teaching staff. It was ...
,
Dollar Academy Dollar Academy is a 5–18 Private schools in the United Kingdom, private co-educational day and boarding school for boys and girls in Scotland. The open campus occupies a site in the centre of Dollar, Clackmannanshire, at the foot of the Ochil ...
,
George Watson's College George Watson's College is a co-educational Private schools in the United Kingdom, private day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a Scottish education in the eighteenth ...
and
Douglas Academy Douglas Academy is a non-denominational, co-educational, comprehensive school, comprehensive Secondary education in Scotland, secondary school in the town of Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, serving the Milngavie, Craigton and Baldernock areas. I ...
. The final was won by the team from
Douglas Academy Douglas Academy is a non-denominational, co-educational, comprehensive school, comprehensive Secondary education in Scotland, secondary school in the town of Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, serving the Milngavie, Craigton and Baldernock areas. I ...
. The 2015 Grand Final was hosted by Standard Life in Edinburgh. The finalists were teams from Clifton Hall School, Morrison's Academy, George Watson's College and Renfrew High School. The final was won by the team from Clifton Hall School.


University of Aberdeen Debater: Schools Debating Competition


Glasgow University Union Schools Debating competition

The 2010's tournament is believed to have been held on Monday, 1 November and the winners were Calum Worsley and Ruth Cameron (1st proposition) of Dollar Academy "A". The other finalists included Dollar Academy "C" (Thomas Clode and Anna George) and George Heriot's "A". They are believed to have debated the motion: "This House would legalise gay marriage." Forty teams from all over Scotland and northern England competed debating four motions: "This House would use torture in the interrogation of terror suspects"; "This House would make Gaelic compulsory in schools"; and "This House would make foreign aid conditional on the promotion of women's rights"; "This house would impose harsher sentences on celebrity criminals".


Edinburgh University Schools


St Andrews University Schools


YSS Schools' Mace

The YSS Schools' Mace is a debating competition open to schools across Scotland. The Mace has its own format, with two teams of two giving two seven-minute speeches and one four-minute summary speech each. In the qualifying heats there are three rounds, one motion being long preparation and two being given on the day, and the top teams are chosen to move on to the finals day. The finals day also has three rounds (all long prep) where the winners of each debate are allowed to progress to the next round. The 2024 winners of the Mace were Sophie Hannigan and Callum Hendry of St Columba's, the other team in the final being Doller Academy's Natalie Yeung and Logan Moss. The same St Columba's team were also the 2023 runners up, with that year's winners being Emma Bell and Emma Crow of
Broxburn Academy Broxburn Academy is a secondary school in Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland. Notable alumni *Hannah Bardell – Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party (SNP; ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party hol ...
(with Lucy Spencer speaking in the qualifiers).


Other tournaments

* The
Glasgow University Union Glasgow University Union (GUU) is one of the largest and oldest students' unions in the UK, serving students and alumni of the University of Glasgow since 1885. The GUU organises social affairs for its members, provides catering and entertainm ...
Schools' Debating Tournament * The
University of Dundee The University of Dundee is a public research university based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded as a university college in 1881 with a donation from the prominent Baxter family of textile manufacturers. The institution was, for most of its ...
Schools' Competition * The University of St Andrews Senior Schools' Debating Competition. *
Aberdeen University The University of Aberdeen (abbreviated ''Aberd.'' in post-nominals; ) is a public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland, petitioned Pope Al ...
Debater Schools' Competition *
Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the town council under the authority of a royal charter from King James VI in 1582 and offi ...
Schools' Competition *
Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the town council under the authority of a royal charter from King James VI in 1582 and offi ...
Juniors Schools' Debating Competition * Robert Gordon's Juniors School's Debating Competition * The Ayrshire Debating Cup was established in 2023.


References


External links

*{{cite web, url=http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/debatinginschools/, archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202005922/http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/debatinginschools/, archivedate=2008-12-02, title=Debating in Schools, website=
Learning and Teaching Scotland Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS or LT Scotland) was a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, formed in 2000https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100056321 by the merger of the Scottish Consultative ...
Debating Debate is a process that involves formal discourse, discussion, and oral addresses on a particular topic or collection of topics, often with a moderator and an audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for opposing viewpoints. Historica ...
Competitions in Scotland Schools debating competitions British debating competitions