Scottish schools have a world-class record in debating. A team of five Scottish pupils won the World Schools Debating Championships in Seoul, South Korea, in 2007.
The aim of this resource is to encourage all young people and teachers to engage actively with debating.
Why use debating in schools?
This resource will help teachers to:
- use speech and debate techniques in the classroom
- set up debating societies within schools
- get involved in competitive debating.
Debate captures the spirit of Curriculum for Excellence and can play a significant part in a schools' citizenship and Determined To Succeed activities. It is a unique way of promoting critical thinking, communication, research and enquiry skills.
The innate structure of debating means that young people build effective communication skills, which enhances their confidence, their ability to communicate and persuade a group of people, and allows them to discover their voice.