Coffee and registration

Welcome

From Silverdale School and explanation of the day from Helen Birtwistle, Debating Matters.

Plenary debate

The importance of debate
This will be an introductory session for participants, initially asking the broad question ‘why does debating matter?’ Following a discussion on the political and cultural importance of debate, the session will move on to the chosen theme of the day, terrorism. After a short introduction on the contemporary debates around terrorism, the Debating Matters team will move on to the specifics of the day’s debates and what is at stake in these issues.

Break

Seminars and student debates

The remainder of the day will involve seminar, workshop, and student debate slots. These sessions are designed to build students’ knowledge and understanding of the issues at stake for our chosen theme of terrorism, and to open up and interrogate those debates that are at the forefront of contemporary discussion– from the radicalization of the underpants bomber through to anti-terrorism legislation and the erosion of civil liberties.

Students will be divided into four groups of around 15 students, with a mix of students from different schools in each group. During the third session – the student debate slot – students will participate in a debate of their own. Some will act as speakers and others as a probing and inquisitive audience. Three student speakers will be selected from each group to debate with three student speakers from another group. The remaining will put points and questions to the student speakers from the audience and provide feedback to their peers on their performances at the end of the debate.

Seminar

Scrutinising ideas and analysing the debate

During this seminar students will first be given the opportunity to discuss the issues and ideas arising from the preceding plenary session. Students will then examine and discuss other ideas relating to the question of contemporary terrorism in preparation for the following research and speech writing seminar.

Lunch

Workshop

Research and speech writing

During this seminar students will identify the key issues and principles at stake in the debate and divide into subgroups to research and develop arguments around these further. The subgroups will then exchange findings and then commence the writing of short speeches.

Break

Student Debates

“Protecting the public from terrorism should come before civil liberties”

Student Debates

“Extremist religious and political groups should be banned from university campuses”

Results and round up

Drinks reception

Evening Question Time - at the University of Sheffield

‘Question Time’ style Global Uncertainties debate

In the style of the BBC’s Question Time programme, panellists will address a range of questions related to issues such as youth radicalisation, terrorism and civil liberties, belief and politics, surveillance and privacy, as well as broader issues relating to the state of politics in the UK. Students, teachers, parents and other members of the community will be encouraged to put questions to an illustrious panel:

Speakers: