The Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament
The Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament is a national debating competition held throughout the year in Scottish Secondary Schools. It is one of the leading debating tournaments in Scotland and is organised annually by the Law Society of Scotland. It was created in 1999 and was held in order to remember the life, work and passion of Donald Dewar, the first First Minister of Scotland. Since 2006, the final of the tournament has been held in the debating chamber of The Scottish Parliament, in Edinburgh. The 2016 competition had 128 teams participating, with winners Finlay Allmond and Caitlin Sherret from Nairn Academy.[1] Craigmount High School have won the competition a record three times- in 2007[2] 2012,[3] and 2014.[4] Glasgow Academy and Robert Gordon's College are the only other schools to have won the competition more than once.
Format of The Competition
The competition has four stages of debate. These take place throughout Scottish Secondary Schools from November to June, with the final being held in the Scottish Parliament.
Round | Format | Venues |
---|---|---|
1 | Teams are given two weeks to prepare | Host Secondary School |
2 | Teams are given two weeks to prepare | Host Secondary School |
Semi-Finals | Teams are given one hour to prepare | Host Secondary School |
Final | Teams are given three weeks to prepare | Scottish Parliament |
Winners
Year | Winning school | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
2019 | Bearsden Academy | Balfron High School |
2018 | Peebles High School | Perth High School |
2017 | Douglas Academy | High School of Dundee |
2016 | Nairn Academy | |
2015 | Madras College | |
2014 | Craigmount High School | |
2013 | Robert Gordon's College | Glenalmond College |
2012 | Craigmount High School | |
2011 | Braes High School | |
2010 | Glasgow Academy | |
2009 | Glasgow Academy | |
2008 | Robert Gordon's College | High School of Dundee |
2007 | Craigmount High School | High School of Dundee |
2006 | Dollar Academy | |
2005 | George Heriot's School | Robert Gordon's College |
References
- McKenzie, Jamie (12 June 2016). "Nairn Academy becomes "best school debating team in Scotland"". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
- "Craigmount wins the argument to take top debating prize". The Scotsman. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
- "School pupils talk the talk". Milngavie Herald. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
- McKendrick, Heather (16 June 2014). "No question about benefits of debate". The Scotsman. Retrieved 3 July 2016.