Congratulations to The Ecclesbourne School on becoming Debating Matters House of Lords Champions 2024!
Students from four schools from across the UK came together in a day of dynamic debate at The Palace of Westminster on Friday 15 March.
I was really impressed by the ability of the students to make cogent arguments and to stick by their points, even though they hadn't necessarily chosen which side of the debate they were going to be on. And that's really difficult. One of the key things about politics is the willingness to exchange ideas, to debate and, in that sense, debating really does matter.
Baroness Smith of Newnham panel judge
Debating Matters was invited back to the House of Lords this year and worked alongside the House of Lords Communications team to co-host another fantastic day of high-quality debate. The Ecclesbourne School from Derbyshire faced stiff competition from Cardinal Newman Catholic School from East Sussex, Gosforth Academy and Gillingham Schools to win the title DM House of Lords Champions 2024. The winners, runners up and ‘best individual’ were presented with their prizes by Ben Delo and the co-founder of Debating Matters, Baroness Fox of Buckley, Claire Fox, at the conclusion to an inspiring day of robust and reasoned debate.
Judges were drawn from across the House of Lords benches with Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Crossbench peers joining professionals from law, media, education and the charitable sector. Their role was to challenge students by asking tough questions, to push them to articulate their best arguments, and to provide feedback on how to develop and improve their debating skills in the future.
Debating Matters is a unique competition, which encourages students to explore the intellectual climate of the day through adopting sometimes contentious, sometimes difficult arguments. I'm an alumnus of the competition - I think I was part of the first cohort ever. And I can say that, for me, it was a completely transformative experience being opened up and exposed to the possibility of disagreement in a civil and rigorous context like this. Being around people who believed in the power of argument and debate, being exposed to rigorous cross-examination of one's own opinions, having one's own assumptions questioned by people who had lived and breathed these debates, was completely invaluable. And being here today, it makes me realise that that tradition is still very much part of the competition.
Luke Gittos panel judge and DM alumnus
The day comprised of two semi-final debates, which saw students arguing the opposing sides of the motions Cancel Culture is a threat to freedom of speech and Billionaires owning media companies is bad for democracy before winners of each debate – The Ecclesbourne School and Cardinal Newman Catholic School – met in the final to debate Western museums should repatriate cultural artefacts. The two teams took on the issue of whether cultural artefacts belong in their country of origin, where they can be appreciated in their original context, or whether they are part of a wider tapestry of world culture which should be preserved by those best able to so.
It's very important that we allow ourselves to talk to each other and disagree. I think debating is fundamental to our democracy and our society. The ability to scrutinise different people makes us think about our arguments, and it makes us think more clearly. It improves everyone. Debating Matters is a very good format. It’s very challenging in the moment, but it’s incredibly important that people have the ability to come back on what you say and challenge your assumptions, so thank you very much!
Tom Blythe student, The Ecclesbourne School; winner, Best Individual
As Tom says, there is no substitute for debating an issue to help you clearly understand what you think, and to reflect upon your own ideas by being open to new information and viewpoints. The DM format allows students to do that, whilst placing huge importance on good research and content-led argument.
Students were welcomed to the Palace of Westminster by Simon Burton, Clerk of the Parliaments, before being given a tour of the upper chamber by the House of Lords Communications team. Joining the four competing schools were Brampton Manor Academy, who took part from the audience in cross-examining their peers during the debates.
It's so important to get younger people to interact with debating and politics because people don’t always have an ability to express their own opinions. Even just talking with your friends, being able to say what you mean and have a logical argument is so important. This kind of gives children a platform to do that.
Jennifer Abiola student, Brampton Manor Academy
I believe that engaging in politics and debating from a young age is crucial in ensuring that people, when they're older, can make the informed decisions that matter most to them and their family and the people around them.
Jessie Katabazi student, Brampton Manor Academy
Well done to the students from the four competing schools, who each rose to the occasion. Congratulations to Tom Blythe of The Ecclesbourne School for winning the ‘best individual’ prize. Honourable mentions went to Findlay Shaw and Grace Hepburn from Gosforth Academy, Samuele Salvatore and Otega Hugbo from Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Joseph Taylor and Daniel Beard from The Ecclesbourne School, Lucy Wrench from Gillingham School and Kaima Ikeotuonye from Brampton Manor Academy.
A special thank you goes to teachers Louise Dawson, Michel Kielty, Lydia Richards, Peter Shears and Keith Wood, who encouraged their students to reach their fullest potential.
Thanks to judges Adam Albazy, Steven Barrett, Luke Gittos, Timandra Harkness, Stanislaus Huepfl, Eleanor Kavanagh-Brown, Dr Jan Macvarish, Saba Poursaeedi, Lord Ranger of Northwood, Kim Samuel, Baroness Smith of Newnham, Paul Thomas, Lord Trevethin and Oaksey, Lord Triesman and Leo Villa.
The event was hosted in partnership with the House of Lords Communication team with special thanks due to Ellen Large, Tom Sancassani and Alex Tilston-Fleming. Prizes were handed out to students by Baroness Fox of Buckley, Claire Fox and Ben Delo and were provided by Hodder Education, Prospect, Academy of Ideas and the House of Lords.
For further details, please visit our events page on the Debating Matters website.
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