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Debating

Dulwich College understands that the benefits of debating go beyond the fun and the thrill of the competition, the camaraderie with teammates and the opportunities to travel all over England. Students develop:

  • Critical thinking skills: critical analysis skills are developed along with the ability to propose workable solutions. Taught to synthesise vast quantities of information, students who debate become adept at problem solving and innovative thinking.
  • Public speaking skills: debating provides a non-threatening environment to practice public speaking, improving students’ confidence and success at interviews.
  • Academic skills: students who debate excel in oral and written communication and greatly improve their reading comprehension. Debaters become independent learners with advanced research skills, highly valued by universities.
  • Emotional maturity: debate engages students with serious subject matter in a mature environment. The discipline hones listening skills and helps pupils to recognise how others think.

There are currently around 60 students in the Debating Society at Dulwich College (Years 7 to 13), which is open to both those who are interested in competing in debating competitions, and those who would simply like to improve their ability to engage with current affairs and political issues.

Competition attendance

 Debaters have many opportunities to extend external competitions. In the academic year 2024-25, students are competing in:

  • ESU Mace
  • South Hampstead High School competition
  • UCL Winter Schools
  • LSE Winter Schools
  • Oxford Schools
  • Cambridge Schools
  • Nehru Cup, hosted by Harrow

Recently in the UK, Dulwich College debaters are:

  • LSE Winter Schools 2024: Gold and Silver Finalists
  • UCL Winter Schools 2024: Gold Finalists
  • Dulwich Schools 2024: Bronze Finalists
  • International Competition for Young Debaters (ICYD) 2024: first and second teams to progress to the final day from London regional
  • LSE Schools 2024: Silver & Gold Finalists
  • Cambridge Schools 2024: progressed to finals day
  • Oxford Schools 2024: progressed to finals day
  • UCL Schools 2023: Silver Finalists
  • LSE Juniors 2023: Silver Finalists
  • SHHS Autumn Debating 2023: Champions
  • Cambridge Schools 2023: progressed to finals day
  • Manchester Schools 2022: Silver Champions
  • LSE Winter Schools 2022: Winners
  • Imperial Schools 2022: Winners
  • LSE Schools 2021: Finalists
  • Imperial Schools 2020: Winners, with a second Dulwich team breaking first
  • The Cambridge Union Schools Debating Competition 2019: Winners
  • LSE Schools 2019: Winners

Recently internationally, Dulwich debaters:

  • Were chosen to be part of Team England and represent the country in the World Schools' Debating Championships every year between 2013 and 2020
  • In 2020, Joe Atkinson was selected for the England team
  • In 2019, Luke Jensen-Jones was selected for the England team

Dulwich Debating Coach

Umar Cassim Buckus is the new coach for Dulwich College. Having been on the international debating circuit for almost ten years, and having experienced it at all levels, he has developed a rigorous approach to debating that will ensure the students enter debating competitions feeling fully prepped and excited to test their skills. He is an accomplished judge with over 32 adjudicator breaks, including at the World Schools’ and World Universities’ Debating Championships in 2021, and he has been the Chief Adjudicator at a further 16 competitions. Watching countless debates and weighing the arguments and strategic approaches of teams from schools and universities all over the world has given him the ideal experience for coaching students at Dulwich. He looks forward to welcoming students from Years 7 to 13 to the club, from beginners just trying it out to seasoned debaters gunning for the win at all major competitions.

Dulwich Schools' Debating Competition

Dulwich annually host the Dulwich Schools' Debating Competition. A firm favourite of those who attend, this competition is growing yearly and we have just hosted our 14th annual competition on 6 October 2024. We look forward to hosting our 15th in 2025.

One of the first competitions in the debating season, Dulwich Schools’ has twenty debating rooms, and is attended by the best debating schools in London. It is the largest school-hosted senior debating tournament in the country. The competition boasts an exceptional panel of judges and chief adjudicators attracting students and schools nationwide: in 2024, we had a chief adjudicator from a past World University Debate Championship (WUDC) and in 2023, we had a finalist from the European University Debate Championship (EUDC). From complete novices, to members of the national team, all students have personalised feedback from accomplished judges to help their skills improve. Dulwich students are given the opportunity to compete, and those that do not are still given the opportunity to shadow judge other schools.

For any enquiries about the competition, please email Emma Nairne, Head of Debating: nairneev@dulwich.org.uk

External links

Debaters have the opportunity for friendly debating spars against local schools as well as termly outreach training sessions with schools in the Southwark Schools Learning Partnership (SSLP). We have previously collaborated with youth centres to promote access to debating skills.

If you would like to arrange a friendly spar, please email Emma Nairne, Head of Debating: nairneev@dulwich.org.uk

History of Debating at Dulwich

Dulwich College has a long tradition of debating. Long before its first society was founded in the 1860s, students exercised their critical thinking and verbal dexterity through public speaking.

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