Frustrated by the status quo? Curious, open-minded and intellectually rebellious? The Battle of Ideas, the annual festival of public debate, takes place on the weekend of 20-21 October in its new home of London’s Barbican.

Now in its eighth year, the 2012 festival features 350 speakers at 75 debates, including: keynote sessions on equality, free will and the 21st century case for freedom; strands on the Battles for Europe, the media, the UK after the riots and ethical issues in science and medicine. Early Bird weekend tickets are £90/50 until 10 September. Student and school student offers and discounts for Barbican members available.

If that wasn’t enough to make you want to attend, then the fourth Debating Matters Competition International Final will be taking place at the Battle of Ideas on Saturday 20 October, which will see the UK Champions 2011/12, Graveney School from London, debating the motion “Clinical Trials in developing countries are exploitative” with Debating Matters India winners Our Lady Queen of the Mission School, Kolkata who are flying to the UK to take part.

Teacher Tom Finn-Kelcey, Head of Politics, PSHE & Citizenship at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Kent, attended the festival last year with some of his students and said of the experience:

“The festival provided a vibrant and exciting opportunity to hear some really top class speakers debating some of the most controversial and important issues of our time. For many of my students, it really raised the bar in terms of their thinking about the world around them, and we at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School would strongly reccomend the festival as an esscential experience for students of all abilities.”

Together with The Hargrave Foundation, we are delighted to be able to offer Debating Matters students a free day ticket to the Battle of Ideas festival, attending on either Saturday 20 or Sunday 21 October. And if you want to attend the whole weekend you can do so for just £10 for the other day!

To reserve your free day ticket/s email now.

FURTHER HELP

Find out more about the Battle of Ideas and the Institute of Ideas. If you have any questions about this ticket offer please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 020 7269 9224.