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 to mark the Law Society of Scotland's 50th anniversary. It was later renamed 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 often 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] Madras College, Glasgow Academy, Peebles High School, and Robert Gordon's College are the only other schools to have won the competition more than once.
Format of The Competition[edit]
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 |
In 2023, the motion for the competition's final was subject to a late change, due to the fact that there was a death in the local community that was thought to be related to TikTok. This lead the Law Society of Scotland to change the motion from, "This House would ban TikTok", to "This House would support government intervention to prevent gentrification". Additionally, there was a change in the format of the semi-final debates due to heavy snow, meaning that some of the heats had to be moved online.
Winners[edit]
| Year | Winning school | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Broxburn Academy | Balfron High School |
| 2022 | Fortrose Academy | The High School of Glasgow |
| 2021 | Peebles High School | Thurso High School |
| 2020 | Peebles High School | Balfron High School |
| 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 | Hutcheson's Grammar School |
| 2005 | George Heriot's School | Robert Gordon's College |
References[edit]
- ^ 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.