Debating in Schools
How to run a debates competition
Introduction
Running a debating competition between different schools can be a good way to celebrate debaters’ achievements, and involve more local schools in debating.
It is also a great way to help cement a newly-established society as society members can take part in running the event as well as competing in it!
Decisions to make about the competition
There are certain decisions that must be made in advance of the competition going ahead. The tournament can either take place on a single day (ie a school day) or over a number of days.
- A single-day competition means that all the participant schools come to a central venue and there is a day of debating there. This, in many ways, is logistically easier.
- A multi-day competition means that the schools pair up to organise debates against each other and the results are collected centrally. This is more onerous but involves more schools (and, potentially, more pupils) in the competition.