The competition doesn’t create youth orientated topics for you to debate, but real-world issues which society at large is discussing. Nor do we offer praise just because you’re young and giving a speech - we will judge you on what you say, and how well you defend your arguments when held to account by your peers and a panel of adult judges. These core aspects of the Debating Matters format demonstrate that we think young people have something to say about the world they live in.

During a Debating Matters round, you’ll be put under real pressure by a panel of three judges - professionals from a wide variety of field - from journalists to scientists, business people to politicians. They will push you beyond your comfort zone, forcing you to defend your arguments under fire and provide you with frank and honest feedback. You’ll also face your peers, both the opposing team and the audience, and again be forced to demonstrate that you know your stuff.

To help you with your preparations, Debating Matters produces a series of acclaimed Topic Guides (one for each debate motion) which are the starting point for your research. The Topic Guides will ground you in the fundamentals of the issue at hand, and site the debate in a real-world context - not an abstract one of semantics and clever word-play.

Students who have competed in Debating Matters for the first time are often daunted by the task ahead of them - and nerves are quite perfectly natural - but time and again they demonstrate they can rise to the challenge and push themselves further than they imagined they could. As one young debater new to Debating Matters said of his Regional Final experience:

“I have honestly really enjoyed having my views, and also my ability to debate, tested by peers, and expert judges. Whilst nerve wracking, the little buzz you get from making a point that stuns your opponents, or nailing the speech, or challenging from the floor, is great.”
Jacob Reynolds, Queens’ School, Bushey

FURTHER HELP

For additional information about what being a Debating Matters debater means, see Advice for Students. To help you get the most from your experience as a Debating Matters debater, see our Top Tips section, where Debating Matters Alumni who’ve done the competition before offer their insights. And if you want to see the advice we provide for judges in how they make their decision about who wins a debate, see Advice for Judges.