Pupils from schools across Scotland are getting ready to debate the pros and cons of the internet in the opening rounds of the Law Society of Scotland’s annual debating tournament.
The Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament will see 128 teams from 102 Scottish schools put their powers of persuasion to the test when they debate the motion ‘This House believes that the internet does more harm than good’. Now in its 16th year, the competition is the biggest school debating tournament in Scotland and 14 more schools have entered for the first time this year.
Laura Gulliver, Careers and Outreach Manager at the Law Society, said: “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.”
“The internet is an amazing resource – from finding out about just about anything there is to know, doing shopping or booking a holiday - but of course there are issues around security and online criminal activity. We’ve set our teams a challenge by asking if the internet is harmful and I’m looking forward to hearing the arguments they put forward.
“Debating is a great skill to have which as well as being good fun. Many schools now have debating clubs and they really encourage pupils to learn how to build convincing arguments and give them a voice to express their views and opinions.
“The June final in the Scottish Parliament’s debating chamber was an exciting finish to the last tournament, with superb performances from some very talented young people, some who had entered the competition for the first time, as they debated whether the media should restrict coverage of terrorist attacks.”
The Law Society awards the first prize of £1,000 and the top two teams will share educational books to the value of £500 donated by the event sponsor, Hodder Gibson.
The opening rounds take place on will take place on 19, 25 November and 3 December. Further information about the tournament can be found at www.lawscot.org.uk/debating or contact [email protected].
The 2013/14 winners and runners up are featured in a Law Society video about the tournament which is available to watch online: www.lawscot.org.uk/debating.
All schools participating in the opening heats are listed below:
Schools from across Scotland will take part in this year’s debating tournament. Schools taking part for the first time are marked *
|
Name of School |
Town |
|
Albyn School |
Aberdeen |
|
Alness Academy |
Alness |
|
Arbroath High School |
Arbroath |
|
Auchenharvie Academy |
Stevenston |
|
Balfron High School |
Balfron |
|
Banchory Academy |
Banchory |
|
Barrhead High School |
Glasgow |
|
Bearsden Academy |
Bearsden |
|
Belmont Academy |
Ayr |
|
Biggar High School |
Biggar |
|
Boclair Academy |
Glasgow |
|
Bo'ness Academy* |
Bo'ness |
|
Boroughmuir High School |
Edinburgh |
|
Braes High School |
Falkirk |
|
Buckhaven High |
Buckhaven |
|
Caldervale High School |
Airdrie |
|
Cathkin High school* |
Glasgow |
|
Charleston Academy* |
Inverness |
|
Charleston Academy |
Inverness |
|
Clifton Hall School |
Edinburgh |
|
Craigholme School |
Glasgow |
|
Craigmount High School |
Edinburgh |
|
Cumbernauld Academy |
Cumbernauld |
|
Deans Community High School* |
Livingston |
|
Denny High School |
Denny |
|
Dollar Academy |
Dollar |
|
Douglas Academy |
Glasgow |
|
Dumbarton Academy |
Dumbarton |
|
Dumfries Academy |
Dumfries |
|
Duncanrig Secondary School |
East Kilbride |
|
Dunfermline High School |
Dunfermline |
|
Falkirk High School |
Falkirk |
|
Fernhill School |
Glasgow |
|
George Heriot's School |
Edinburgh |
|
George Watson's College |
Edinburgh |
|
Glasgow Gaelic school |
Glasgow |
|
Glenalmond College |
Perth |
|
Golspie High School |
Golspie |
|
Gordonstoun School |
Elgin |
|
Grove Academy |
Dundee |
|
Hazlehead Academy* |
Aberdeen |
|
Hermitage Academy |
Helensburgh |
|
High School of Dundee |
Dundee |
|
Hillpark Secondary |
Glasgow |
|
Holy Cross High School |
Hamilton |
|
Holyrood Secondary |
Glasgow |
|
Invergordon Academy* |
Invergordon |
|
Inverness Royal Academy |
Inverness |
|
Jordanhill School* |
Glasgow |
|
Kilsyth Academy* |
Kilsyth |
|
King's Park Secondary |
Glasgow |
|
Kinross High School |
Kinross |
|
Lanark Grammar School |
Lanark |
|
Lenzie Academy |
East Dunbartonshire |
|
Lochend Community High* |
Glasgow |
|
Lomond School |
Helensburgh |
|
Madras College |
St Andrews |
|
Mallaig High School |
Mallaig |
|
Marr College |
Troon |
|
Mearns Castle High School |
Glasgow |
|
Menzieshill High School |
Dundee |
|
Merchiston Castle |
Edinburgh |
|
Monifieth High School* |
Monfieth |
|
Morrison's Academy |
Crieff |
|
Nairn Academy |
Nairn |
|
Our Lady and St Patrick's High School* |
Dumbarton |
|
Our Lady's High School |
Motherwell |
|
Perth Academy |
Perth |
|
Prestwick Academy |
Prestwick |
|
Queensferry High School |
Edinburgh |
|
Renfrew High School |
Renfrew |
|
Robert Gordon's College |
Aberdeen |
|
Rosshall Academy |
Glasgow |
|
Saint Peter the Apostle High School |
Clydebank |
|
St Aloysius' College |
Glasgow |
|
St Andrew's and St Bride's High |
East Kilbride |
|
St Columba's School |
Kilmacolm |
|
St George's School for Girls |
Edinburgh |
|
St Joseph's College |
Dumfries |
|
St Margaret's Academy |
Livingston |
|
St Margaret's School for Girls |
Aberdeen |
|
St Mary's Music School |
Edinburgh |
|
St Paul's RC Academy |
Dundee |
|
St. Andrew's R.C. High School |
Kirkcaldy |
|
St. Margaret's High School |
Airdrie |
|
St. Maurice's High School |
Glasgow |
|
Strathallan school |
Forgandenny |
|
The Community School of Auchterarder |
Aucherarder |
|
The Glasgow Academy |
Glasgow |
|
The High School of Glasgow |
Glasgow |
|
The James Young High School* |
Livingston |
|
The Mary Erskine School |
Edinburgh |
|
The Nicolson Institute |
Stornoway |
|
The Royal High School |
Edinburgh |
|
Thurso High School |
Thurso |
|
Uddingston Grammar School |
Uddingston |
|
Wallace High School |
Stirling |
|
Wellington School |
Ayr |
|
Whitburn Academy* |
Whitburn |
|
Williamwood High School |
Glasgow |
|
Woodfarm High School* |
Glasgow |
|
Woodmill High School |
Fife |
ENDS 12 November 2015
Established in 1999, Scotland’s largest annual schools debating tournament is open to pupils in all Scottish secondary schools. Organised and run by the Law Society of Scotland, the tournament is dedicated to the memory of the former First Minister Donald Dewar MSP, who died in 2000.
Footage of the 2014/2015 tournament final is available from the Scottish Parliament https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRXURZRvHpc
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact Sarah Sutton on 0131 476 8170 or email [email protected].
