THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2011/12

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1 INSTITUTE OF IDEAS DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2011/12 NORTH WEST & NORTH WALES REGION Dear Teacher, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2011/12 WHY COMPETE IN THE DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION? Debating Matters represents a challenging and engaging approach to debating for sixth form students and the 2011/12 competition marks the eighth year of the competition, which has gone from strength to strength since its inception. Debating Matters presents students with topical debates and a challenging format that will appeal to students from a wide range of backgrounds, and to schools with a long tradition of debating, or with none. The free-flowing but rigorous format employed for Debating Matters debates has proved popular with students and schools, and the role played by the Debating Matters judges in pushing the students to develop their arguments further and to substantiate their case is especially well received. Our judges are drawn from a broad spectrum of professional backgrounds and bring different insights and expertise to the debates. The real-world nature of the debates is another aspect of Debating Matters that is particularly highly valued, with students repeatedly indicating they are keen to discuss fundamental and intellectually challenging questions facing society today. In their research and preparation, students are asked to go beyond sound bites or semantics to find the evidence they need to make their case. THE 2011/12 COMPETITION We will hold 48 Qualifying Rounds, each seeing four schools competing against one another, throughout the autumn term from the start of October through to early December The winners of each the 48 Qualifying Rounds will then be invited to compete in one of 8 Regional Finals in the spring term of Each Regional Final winner will then be invited to the National Final, to be held in central London in the summer term of ENTRY FORM Attached is a competition entry form. Please take time to read through it, including the Competition Rules. If you have any questions before submitting an entry form please don t hesitate to call me on The form is relatively straightforward, but the information we request on it is essential, especially the contact details we ask for. One of the difficulties we face in organising the Qualifying Rounds is getting hold of teachers during the school day. Obviously this is understandable, but we do need to ensure that the process of contacting you is as efficient as possible. Our preferred method of contact in most instances is , so we are especially keen for you to give us an address you use regularly school addresses that you check once a month aren t much use! We also want to draw to your attention to the second page of the entry form listing the six Qualifying Rounds in your region and the dates these rounds will be held. We need you to make a first and second choice about which Qualifying Rounds you want to take part in - which suit you both geographically and by date. We will always default to your first choice of round unless it is oversubscribed, in which case you may be allocated your second choice if you are not randomly drawn for your first.

2 ENTRY DEADLINE All schools submitting valid entry forms (i.e. fully completed and accompanied by the 30 entry fee) by the entry deadline of 24 June 2011 will be provisionally allocated a place in a Qualifying Round. If, at the entry deadline date, a Qualifying Round is oversubscribed we will hold a random draw to determine which schools will secure a place in the round. We will offer schools who did not secure a place in the random draw the opportunity to take part in alternative rounds, where possible. In the event that a round does not have a full quota of schools by the entry deadline, we will then allocate these available spaces on a first come, first served basis. We advise you to return your completed entry form, and entry fee, without delay as we were oversubscribed last year. ENTRY FEE The cost to enter this year s competition is just 30. The fee entitles you to access the competition s resources and advice for schools online, the Topic Guide resources for each stage of the competition you participate in, and certificates for your team where appropriate. The Debating Matters Topic Guides have been praised by judges, debaters and teachers alike for being a thorough and informative introduction to each debate. New Topic Guides are created for each debate motion, making them relevant and contemporary for the debaters. The 30 fee will not be banked until we have confirmed your place in one of the 48 Qualifying Rounds. Once your place is confirmed the fee is non-refundable. Further details about the Entry Fee can be found in the Competition Rules. HOSTING A DEBATING MATTERS QUALIFYING ROUND Qualifying Rounds are hosted by one of the participating schools with support provided by the Institute of Ideas. The host school is responsible for preparing a venue, providing light refreshments and sandwiches and providing the necessary materials to ensure the debates run smoothly. If you are able to host a Qualifying Round this year, do let us know by ticking the relevant box on the entry form. We will then be in touch to confirm what is required, and answer any questions you may have. Host schools will be provided with an information sheet to help them prepare for the Qualifying Round, and ongoing phone support from the Debating Matters team. TEACHER CHAIRS Following on from our successful experiments with this over the past few years, we would like to again appeal for teachers to volunteer to help chair one of the debates at their Qualifying Round. Teachers tend to make excellent chairs, and the increased involvement of schools in this way will allow the competition to expand in future years. We will provide written advice and phone support for those wishing to try chairing this year for the first time (as well as to those teachers who ve already chaired in the past but would like refresher!) together with a practical example from an experienced chair at the start of each Qualifying Round. If you would like to volunteer for this role (note that you will not be asked to chair your own team) please ensure you tick the relevant box on your entry form. We hope to meet you and your team in the autumn. Best wishes, Justine Brian National Coordinator

3 INSTITUTE OF IDEAS DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2011/12 ENTRY FORM part 1 of 2 DEADLINE FOR ENTRY 24 JUNE 2011 Please complete all sections of this form. NAME OF SCHOOL/COLLEGE ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER FAX NUMBER SCHOOL WEBSITE REGION QUALIFYING ROUND (FOR OFFICE USE) OUR SCHOOL WOULD LIKE TO ENTER A TEAM IN THE INSTITUTE OF IDEAS DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2011/12 WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO HOST A QUALIFYING ROUND * (SEE BELOW) I, AS A TEACHER, WOULD BE PREPARED TO CHAIR ONE OF THE DEBATES AT MY QUALIFYING ROUND ** (SEE BELOW) WE INCLUDE A CHEQUE FOR THE ENTRY FEE OF 30 - MADE PAYABLE TO ACADEMY OF IDEAS LTD *** (SEE BELOW) NAME OF TEACHER IN CHARGE OF TEAM JOB TITLE ADDITIONAL TEACHER IN CHARGE OF THE TEAM? In order to organise the Qualifying Rounds we need to be able to contact you. The restrictions of the school day and school switchboards make this a difficult task sometimes, and as such we need you to provide us with at least two means of contacting you. Ideally this would be a mobile phone number and an address you check regularly. Please provide at least two methods of contact below. We will not be able to proceed with your entry for this year s competition without this information. MOBILE NUMBER HOME NUMBER HOME SCHOOL We will only call you outside of school hours when absolutely necessary, and would prefer to contact you in most instances by . * HOSTING A QUALIFYING ROUND Your key responsibilities as host school at the Qualifying Round stage are outlined in detail in the Competition Rules. An information sheet and phone support will be provided to hosting schools. ** CHAIRING A DEBATE Your role would be to chair one of the three debates at your Qualifying Round, excluding your own school. Full chairing instructions and support from the Institute of Ideas, as well as the host school teacher, will be provided. *** 30 ENTRY FEE The fee is non-refundable. See Competition Rules for additional information about the Entry Fee.

4 INSTITUTE OF IDEAS DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2010/11 ENTRY FORM part 2 of 2 DEADLINE FOR ENTRY 24 JUNE 2011 Please complete all sections of this form. Please indicate below which Qualifying Round in your region you would like to take part in, where 1 indicates your first choice and 2 indicates your second choice. Please indicate at least a first and second choice so can we allow for oversubscription in some rounds. Please note the date/s you choose in your school diary to avoid date conflicts in the autumn term. NORTH WEST & NORTH WALES REGION MANCHESTER QUALIFYING ROUND 17 OCTOBER 2011 LANCASHIRE QUALIFYING ROUND 3 NOVEMBER 2011 NORTH WALES QUALIFYING ROUND 7 NOVEMBER 2011 BLACKBURN QUALIFYING ROUND 8 NOVEMBER 2011 CUMBRIA QUALIFYING ROUND 21 NOVEMBER 2011 MERSEYSIDE QUALIFYING ROUND 5 DECEMBER 2011 NOTE: In the event that none of the above dates are possible for you, please call Justine Brian on or justinebrian@instituteofideas.com AS THE TEACHER IN CHARGE, I CONFIRM THAT I WILL ENTER A TEAM OF FOUR SIXTH FORM STUDENTS (AGED 16-19) IN THIS YEARS INSTITUTE OF IDEAS DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2011/12**** (SEE BELOW) I HAVE READ THE DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION RULES AND ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OUTLINED. I AGREE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELFARE OF THE TEAM, AND ANY ADDITIONAL ACCOMPANYING STUDENTS, FOR THE DURATION OF THE EVENTS WE ATTEND **** ENTERING A TEAM For the Qualifying Round you need to submit a team of four students aged 16-19, or studying at A level grade or equivalent. At the Regional Finals and National Final you can submit a team of 4-6 students aged 16-19, or studying at A level grade or equivalent. See Competition Rules for additional information about team sizes. SIGNATURE OF TEACHER NAMED ABOVE DATE COUNTERSIGNED BY HEADTEACHER/PRINCIPAL /HEAD OF SIXTH FORM (DELETE AS APPROPRIATE) NAME DATE Please return this completed form, together with your entry fee cheque, to: Debating Matters Signet House 49/51 Farringdon Road LONDON EC1M 3JP If you have any queries about this form or the Debating Matters Competition please call: , Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm or justinebrian@instituteofideas.com

5 INSTITUTE OF IDEAS DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2010/11 THE STRUCTURE AND TIMING OF A QUALIFYING ROUND DEBATE A debate lasts up to one hour and ten minutes. The time will divide up as follows: INTRODUCTIONS BY THE CHAIRPERSON: MINUTES 0 5 The Chairperson introduces the debate and the judges before introducing each debater in turn (students will have been asked to provide short biographies in advance). OPENING PRESENTATIONS: MINUTES 5 20 Each debater is allowed 3 minutes to make their opening presentation. Presentations alternate between the two teams, beginning with the first student arguing for the motion. JUDGES QUESTIONS: MINUTES The judges pose questions to each team in turn, with the time split evenly between the two teams. The Chairperson will ask each judge to ask one question to the team arguing for the motion. The team arguing for the motion is then asked to respond to the three questions from the judges. The same then happens for the team arguing against the motion. The purpose of the judges questions is to push debaters to go further in their arguments, to substantiate their statements and to demonstrate a more complex and sophisticated grasp of the debate and the key issues at stake. AUDIENCE QUESTIONS AND TEAM EXCHANGES: MINUTES The Chairperson invites questions from the audience, who are encouraged to say what they think on the topic, ask questions and participate fully in the debate. Speakers from the floor will be asked to give their names and schools and they have a chance of being awarded prizes at the end of the debate for individual performance. The Chairperson will take two rounds of four or five questions in a row from the audience and may direct questions to each team at their discretion. Each team will then be given brief opportunities to respond to those questions and comments that they think are the most relevant and interesting. Debaters are not expected to respond to every question. During this period, teams will be allowed to directly challenge each other and pose questions to their opponents. We want to encourage this period to be a free-flowing exchange of ideas, and the Chairperson will ensure that a balance is struck between teams responding to each other, as well as dealing with audience questions. FINAL REMARKS: MINUTES Each student debater is then allowed up to one minute to sum up their argument or make a brief closing point. FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS FROM THE JUDGES: MINUTES The judges then offer constructive feedback to each team in turn, commenting on the strengths and weaknesses of their arguments. AUDIENCE VOTE AND THE JUDGES DECISION: MINUTES The judges confer and reach a consensus decision. An audience vote will be taken by the Chairperson after the judges have left the room to reach their decision - just for fun - but will have no bearing on the judges decision. The judges will return and present their decision, and the reasons for making that decision, to the teams. The judges decision is final.

6 INSTITUTE OF IDEAS DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2010/11 RULES OF THE DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION The following rules will apply for the Institute of Ideas and Pfizer Debating Matters Competition 2011/12: 1. ENTERING THE COMPETITION To confirm you wish to enter this year s competition you must return a fully completed and signed entry form, together with an entry fee payment of 30. By entering the competition the teacher in charge of a team agrees to manage a team for the duration of their involvement in the competition, and to submit a team at each stage of the competition they get through to. This involves selecting a team of students, passing on all necessary information and materials to these students, ensuring that the team arrives at the event(s) on time and are supervised for the duration of the event(s). Late withdrawals seriously disrupt the competition and the organisers should be informed of any difficulties as soon as possible. 2. ENTRY FEE The 30 entry fee entitles you to receive: access to the to access the competition s resources and advice for schools online; Topic Guide resources for each of stage of the competition you participate in; certificates of participation for your team at the Regional and National stages; winners certificates where appropriate. The fee is non-refundable. No cash should be sent. Make cheques payable to Academy of Ideas Ltd. 3. DATES OF EVENTS Debating Matters will set the date of all 48 Qualifying Rounds in advance of the autumn term. The dates of Regional Finals and of the National Final will be confirmed in due course, with every effort made to maximise convenience for competing teams. 4. TEAMS The Debating Matters Competition is for post-16 school and college students. Participants should be current sixth form students or equivalent years 12 and 13 in England or S5 and S6 in Scotland. Debating Matters reserves the right to exclude teams who submit younger/older debaters. Competing teams are encouraged to bring along additional students to take part from the audience, although numbers should be agreed with the host school beforehand. These students can be from any year of the school and all students attending an event are eligible for best individual contribution certificates. 5. NUMBER OF STUDENTS ON A TEAM In the Qualifying Rounds each school or college enters one team consisting of four students. In the Regional Heats and National Final each team may consist of a minimum of four and a maximum of six students. Continuity in the students involved through the different stages of the competition is encouraged, although teams in the latter stages do not have to consist of students that took part in the previous stage. 6. DEBATE TOPICS AND DRAW The debate motions for the Qualifying Rounds, Regional Finals and National Final are chosen by the Institute of Ideas and will reflect a balance between scientific, political and cultural issues. At each stage of the competition the Institute of Ideas will perform an independently adjudicated draw to determine which teams compete against each other, as well as to determine whether a team is allocated to argue for or against each debate motion.

7 INSTITUTE OF IDEAS DEBATING MATTERS COMPETITION 2011/12 7. AUDIO VISUAL PRESENTATIONS Use of audio visual equipment is not permitted to be used by debaters as part of their presentation. Use of sound or projection both detracts from the spirit of the competition and is disruptive to the timekeeping of each debate. 8. JUDGING The Institute of Ideas is responsible for selecting judges throughout the competition, but is happy to consider suggestions from all participants regarding prospective judges. To ensure impartiality, judges should not be a teacher, employee or Governor at one of the participating schools and should not have a child who is currently a pupil at one of the participating schools. The Debating Matters Competition involves a broad spectrum of judges from a wide range of professional backgrounds who bring different expertise and insights. Judges are invited for their ability to offer critical insights and ask probing questions, rather than for any particular experience of formal debating or specific knowledge about the debate topics. Judges are encouraged to reach a consensus decision. However, if this is not possible a majority decision should be awarded. The judges decision is final. 9. ORGANISATION Qualifying Rounds are hosted by one of the participating schools with support provided by the Institute of Ideas. The local organiser from the host school is responsible for providing a venue which can hold up to 40 people, setting out the room as outlined in the Debating Matters Competition Handbook, providing refreshments and a light sandwich tea for the teams, and for the provision of materials essential for the smooth-running of the event (pens, nameplates etc). It is hoped that the hosting of Qualifying Rounds will operate on a rotating basis, with all participants taking their turn. An information sheet and phone support is provided to hosting schools. With 48 Qualifying Rounds taking place in the autumn term it is unfortunately not possible for an Institute of Ideas member of staff to attend every Qualifying Round. We will therefore prioritise attendance at those Qualifying Rounds where the host school is new to Debating Matters or has a particular need for additional support. In all other instances we will ensure that a Debating Matters alumnus and/or experienced Debating Matters judge is in attendance to assist with the running of the event. The Institute of Ideas will discuss with the host school the provision of chair people from within the school and from other competing schools which could be teaching staff and/or responsible students and what level of external support is desired to ensure that the host school is comfortable with how the evening will run. The host school will be responsible for reporting the results of the evening debates to the Institute of Ideas - both the results and also any feedback the host school might have about how the event ran as a whole. The Institute of Ideas will be responsible for organising judges. The Regional Heats and National Final will be organised by the Institute of Ideas. 10. EXPENSES Competing teams will be expected to meet their own travel and other expenses for the Qualifying Rounds and Regional Heats. Host schools will be expected to meet the expenses involved in hosting a Qualifying Round, for example those incurred through providing light refreshments and sandwiches. Judges may claim expenses from the Institute of Ideas for attending events, but are not paid for their involvement.