Pupils from schools across Scotland are preparing to debate the pros and cons of holding referendums when they take to the floor for the opening rounds of the Law Society of Scotland’s annual debating tournament.
The 2016/17 Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament will see 128 teams from 85 Scottish schools put their powers of persuasion to the test when they debate the motion ‘This House would ban referendums’. Now in its 17th year, the competition is the biggest school debating tournament in Scotland and 10 schools will be competing for the first time this year.
Heather McKendrick, head of careers and outreach at the Law Society, said: “Young people in Scotland have shown great democratic awareness and interest over the past few years, particularly during the Scottish independence and EU referendums. We’ve set our teams a real challenge by asking about the benefits and drawbacks of holding referendums and I’m looking forward to hearing the arguments they put forward.
“Debating can be hugely rewarding for the pupils taking part. As well as being good fun, it helps young people gain confidence, find their voice and learn skills that could help to open up future opportunities. It’s great to see so many schools entering teams in tournament and we’re delighted to have 14 schools taking part for the first time.
“Last year’s tournament came to exciting finish in the Scottish Parliament’s debating chamber in June, with outstanding performances from some very talented young people as they debated the right to be forgotten online – I’m sure that this year’s competitors will prove to be just as impressive.”
The opening rounds take place on 17, 24 and 29 November with further heats early next year and semi-finals in the spring. The winning team will win £1,000 for their school from the Law Society of Scotland and the top two teams will share educational books to the value of £500 donated by the event sponsor, Hodder Gibson.
Further information about judging in the tournament can be found at www.lawscot.org.uk/debating or contact debate@lawscot.org.uk.
All schools participating in the opening heats are listed below:
85 schools from across Scotland will take part in this year’s debating tournament. Those entering the competition for the first time are marked *
|
School |
Location |
|
Aberdeen Grammar School |
Aberdeen |
|
Albyn School |
Aberdeen |
|
Auchenharvie Academy |
Stevenston |
|
Banchory Academy |
Banchory |
|
Banff Academy* |
Banff |
|
Barrhead High School |
Barrhead |
|
Beaconhurst School |
Bridge of Allan |
|
Bearsden Academy |
Bearsden |
|
Biggar High School |
Biggar |
|
Boclair Academy |
Bearsden |
|
Bo'ness Academy |
Bo'ness |
|
Braes High School |
Falkirk |
|
Broxburn Academy* |
Broxburn |
|
Bucksburn Academy |
Aberdeen |
|
Charleston Academy |
Inverness |
|
Clifton Hall School |
Edinburgh |
|
Craigholme School |
Glasgow |
|
Craigmount High School |
Edinburgh |
|
Cumbernauld Academy |
Cumbernauld |
|
Cumbernauld Acadmeny |
Cumbernauld |
|
Douglas Academy |
Milngavie |
|
Dumbarton Academy |
Dumbarton |
|
Duncanrig Secondary School |
East Kilbride |
|
Dunfermline High School |
Dunfermline |
|
Falkirk High School |
Falkirk |
|
Fernhill School |
Rutherglen |
|
George Heriot's School |
Edinburgh |
|
George Watson's College |
Edinburgh |
|
Glasgow Gaelic School |
Glasgow |
|
Glen Urquhart High School* |
Inverness |
|
Grange Academy* |
Kilmarnock |
|
Grove Academy |
Dundee |
|
Hermitage Academy |
Helensburgh |
|
High School of Dundee |
Dundee |
|
Holy Cross High School |
Hamilton |
|
Holyrood RC Secondary |
Glasgow |
|
Inverclyde Academy |
Greenock |
|
Inverness Royal Academy |
Inverness |
|
James Gillespies High School |
Edinburgh |
|
Jordanhill School |
Glasgow |
|
Kelvinside Academy |
Glasgow |
|
Kilsyth Academy |
Kilsyth |
|
King's Park Secondary |
Glasgow |
|
Lanark Grammar |
Lanark |
|
Leith Academy |
Leith |
|
Lenzie Academy |
Myrtle Avenue, |
|
Levenmouth Academy |
Buckhaven |
|
Lourdes Secondary School |
Glasgow |
|
Madras College |
St Andrews |
|
Marr College |
Troon |
|
Merchiston Castle School |
Colinton |
|
Moffat Academy |
Moffat |
|
Morgan Academy* |
Dundee |
|
Morrison's Academy |
Crieff |
|
Nairn Academy |
Nairn |
|
Our Lady and St Patrick's HS |
Dumbarton |
|
Our Lady's High |
Motherwell |
|
Perth Academy |
Perth |
|
Perth High School |
Perth |
|
Queensferry High School |
South Queensferry |
|
Renfrew High School |
Renfrew |
|
Robert Gordon's College |
Aberdeen |
|
St Andrew's and St Bride's High School |
East Kilbride |
|
St George's School for Girls |
Edinburgh |
|
St John Ogilvie |
Hamilton |
|
St Leonards* |
St Andrews |
|
St Margaret's school for Girls |
Aberdeen |
|
St Mary's Music School |
Edinburgh |
|
St Ninian's High School* |
Glasgow |
|
St Peter the Apostle High School |
Clydebank |
|
St. Maurice's High School |
Cumbernauld |
|
Strathallan School |
Perth |
|
The Community School of Auchterarder |
Auchterarder |
|
The Edinburgh Academy |
Edinburgh |
|
The Glasgow Academy |
Glasgow |
|
The High School of Glasgow |
Glasgow |
|
The James Young High School |
Livingston |
|
The Mary Erskine School |
Edinburgh |
|
The Royal High School |
Edinburgh |
|
Thurso High School |
Thurso |
|
Uddingston Grammar School |
Uddingston |
|
Wallace Hall Academy* |
Dumfries and Galloway |
|
Westhill Academy* |
Westhill |
|
Whitehill Secondary School* |
Glasgow |
|
Woodfarm High School |
East Renfrewshire |
