National Final 2014/15 -- 26 Jun 2015
VENUE: THE BRITISH LIBRARY
Join us for the Debating Matters National Final 2014/15, from Friday 26 June to Sunday 28 June.
Hosted again at the British Library - where Debating Matters started as a pilot programme in 2002 - this year’s 12 Regional Champions will come together for an intense three-day residential weekend of debate about key moral, scientific and social issues. From the hundreds of schools who have competed in this year’s competition, these best and brightest will need to answer tough questions from our judges, their opponents and our audience to earn the title of Debating Matters National Champions 2014/15.
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world’s greatest research libraries. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive research collection. The Library’s collection has developed over 250 years and exceeds 150 million items representing every age of written civilisation. It includes books, journals, manuscripts, maps, stamps, music, patents, photographs, newspapers and sound recordings in all written and spoken languages.
The Library is currently hosting a major exhibition to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, a foundational document in the development of democracy and the establishment of legal rights. As part of the final programme, the teams will receive a private tour of the exhibition.
FROM 14:00 REGISTRATION KCL GREAT DOVER STREET
14:00 - 18:00 FREE TIME
18:30 - 20:30 BRITISH LIBRARY HOSTED DRINKS RECEPTION BRITISH LIBRARY
19:00 WELCOME ADDRESS
Roger Walshe, head of learning, British Library
Claire Fox, director, Academy of Ideas
Dr Alexander Lock, curator of modern historical manuscripts, British Library; lead researcher for the post-medieval sections of the British Library’s exhibition, Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy
19:30 PRIVATE TOUR OF
‘MAGNA CARTA: LAW, LIBERTY, LEGACY’
VENUE: THE BRITISH LIBRARY
09:30-10:00 COFFEE
10:00-10:15 WELCOME
10:25-11:35 ROUND 1
"There is no longer a need for public libraries"
ROUND 1A
FOR:
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Faversham
AGAINST:
CHAIR
JUDGES
Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE
DLA Piper; House of Lords
Louise Jeffreys
Barbican
Paul Thomas
Leeds Salon
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
ROUND 1B
FOR:
AGAINST:
CHAIR
JUDGES
Hilary Salt
First Actuarial
Carmel Turner
Medical Research Council
Philip Walters MBE
chair, CABI
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
"Space exploration is a waste of time and money"
ROUND 1C
FOR:
AGAINST:
CHAIR
JUDGES
Anne Fergusson
financial services and private equity advisor and investor
Professor Sir Simon Wessely
King's College London
Dr Joanna Williams
spiked
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
ROUND 1D
FOR:
AGAINST:
CHAIR
JUDGES
Tim Rich
Writer and communications consultant
Alan Simmons
Mitchell Galley
Professor Christina Slade
Bath Spa University
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
11:35-12:00 CHANGEOVER
12:00-13:10 ROUND 2
"Physician assisted suicide should be legalised"
ROUND 2A
FOR:
North Bristol Post-16 Centre (Redland)
AGAINST:
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Faversham
CHAIR
JUDGES
Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE
DLA Piper; House of Lords
Luke Gittos
Hughmans Solicitors
Sarah Pinch
Chartered Institute of Public Relations
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
ROUND 2B
FOR:
Hutton Church of England Grammar School
AGAINST:
CHAIR
JUDGES
Hilary Salt
First Actuarial
Professor Sir Simon Wessely
King's College London
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
"Nobody has the right to not be offended"
ROUND 2C
FOR:
AGAINST:
CHAIR
JUDGES
Ann Mroz
TES
Andreas Wesemann
Ashcombe Advisers LLP
Dr Joanna Williams
spiked
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
ROUND 2D
FOR:
AGAINST:
CHAIR
JUDGES
Tim Rich
Writer and communications consultant
Hilary Riva OBE
Company Director
Professor Christina Slade
Bath Spa University
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
13:10-14:10 LUNCH
14:10-15:20 ROUND 3
"Voting should be made compulsory in the UK"
ROUND 3A
FOR:
AGAINST:
North Bristol Post-16 Centre (Redland)
CHAIR
JUDGES
Louise Jeffreys
Barbican
Sarah Pinch
Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Paul Thomas
Leeds Salon
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
ROUND 3B
FOR:
AGAINST:
Hutton Church of England Grammar School
CHAIR
JUDGES
Gloria Abramoff
Tonic Productions; The Radio Academy
Philip Walters MBE
chair, CABI
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
"We should embrace the advent of three parent IVF"
ROUND 3C
FOR:
AGAINST:
CHAIR
JUDGES
Luke Gittos
Hughmans Solicitors
Ann Mroz
TES
Anwar Oduro-Kwarteng
Academy of Ideas
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
ROUND 3D
FOR:
AGAINST:
CHAIR
JUDGES
Ellie Lee
University of Kent
Hilary Riva OBE
Company Director
Andreas Wesemann
Ashcombe Advisers LLP
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
17:00-17:30 COFFEE
17:30-19:00 RESULTS & BALLOON DEBATE
VENUE: THE BRITISH LIBRARY
10:00-10:20 COFFEE
10:20-10:30 WELCOME
10:30-11:50 SEMI-FINAL 1
AUDITORIUM
"In a digital age we should not expect our online activities to remain private"
FOR:
WINNER OF GROUP A
AGAINST:
WINNER OF GROUP B
CHAIR
Joel Cohen, Communications Manager, BeyondMe
JUDGES
Jo Glanville
Director English PEN
Roger Walshe
Head of Public Engagement and Learning British Library
Austin Williams
senior lecturer, Department of Architecture Kingston University, London
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
ALL INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
11:50-12:00 CHANGEOVER
12:00-13:20 SEMI-FINAL 2
AUDITORIUM
"Western museums should agree to repatriate cultural artefacts"
FOR:
WINNER OF GROUP C
AGAINST:
WINNER OF GROUP D
CHAIR
Justine Brian, Director, Civitas Schools
JUDGES
Pauline Hadaway
researcher; writer; arts consultant
Rob Lyons
science and technology director Academy of Ideas
Nick Ross
Broadcaster
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
ALL INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
13:20-14:20 LUNCH
14:20-14:30 A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS
AUDITORIUM
14:30-16:00 FINAL
AUDITORIUM
"We should permit the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport"
FOR:
WINNER OF SEMI-FINAL 1
AGAINST:
WINNER OF SEMI-FINAL 2
CHAIR
Claire Fox, Director, Academy of Ideas
JUDGES
Sir Peter Bazalgette
Chair Arts Council England
Hari Sundaresan
Non-Executive; Chief Procurement Officer NHS London Procurement Partnership; BT
INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
ALL INDIVIDUAL JUDGES