Our Debating Competitions provide pupils with an exciting opportunity to develop confidence, communication and critical thinking skills through competitive debate.
Whether pupils are taking their first steps into debating or already have experience presenting and defending arguments, our events are designed to be inclusive, challenging and enjoyable. Participants will have the chance to work as part of a team, think critically about a range of topical issues and build valuable public speaking skills in a supportive competitive environment.
Use the tabs below to explore the full details for each competition and to find out how to enter.
Year 5 & 6 Debating Festival Competition
Our Years 5 & 6 Debating Festivals provide an enjoyable and supportive introduction to competitive debating for younger pupils.
Designed for both experienced and novice debaters, the festivals give children the opportunity to develop confidence in public speaking, critical thinking and teamwork whilst meeting pupils from other schools and competing in a friendly environment.
Whether your school has an established debating programme or is entering pupils into their very first competition, the festivals are designed to be accessible, welcoming and rewarding for all involved.
Key Information
- Years 5 & 6
- Up to 2 teams per school
- 3 pupils per team (any mix of Years 5 & 6, Boys & Girls)
- 3 debates per team
- Spring Term Festivals
- £15 per team
- Trophy for the winning team
- Certificates for all participants
Event Documents
Full competition information, rules and preparation guidance can be found in the documents below.
[Documents coming soon]
Year 7 & 8 Debating Competition
Our U13 Debating Competition is designed for pupils in Years 7 and 8 looking to challenge themselves through high-quality competitive debate.
Using the British Parliamentary debating format, the competition provides pupils with the opportunity to develop advanced communication, reasoning and argumentation skills by competing against other schools.
The competition begins with regional heats during the Spring Term, with successful teams progressing to the National Final in the Summer Term. Along the way, pupils will debate a range of interesting and thought-provoking motions, receive feedback from judges and represent their schools.
The format has been designed to balance accessibility with challenge, making it suitable for schools new to debating whilst also providing an engaging experience for more experienced competitors.
Key Information
- Years 7 & 8 (U13)
- Up to 2 teams per school
- 2 pupils per team (any mix of Year 7 & 8, Boys & Girls)
- British Parliamentary debating format
- Regional heats during the Spring Term
- National Final in the Summer Term
- Qualification pathway from regional heats to the Final
- Champion, Plate and Best Speaker awards
Event Information
Further details regarding team sizes, qualification, judging and competition rules can be found in the documents below.
[Documents coming soon]
Enjoy some highlights from the 2026 Year 7 & 8 finals.
Important information about hosting a 2027 debating event can be found in the documentation below.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive guide. It outlines the requirements you will need to consider in order to deliver a debating competition. These guides ensures that all events follow a standardised competition format.
Interested in hosting a debating competition?
If your school is interested in hosting a debating competition, please email [email protected] to express your interest by Wednesday 6 October.