Literature and language arts

Debating

Debating develops essential skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, research, teamwork and active listening. Students represent their schools in state-wide competitions.

A suite of digital resources is also available, offering valuable insights to participants and supporting teachers in establishing and delivering successful debating programs in their schools.

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Programs

Premier's Debating Challenge

Program Literature and language arts
Years 5 to 12
Open to all NSW public schools with the aim of developing public speaking and reasoning skills of students.

Premier's Debating Challenge for Years 5 and 6

Program Literature and language arts
Years 5 and 6
Open to NSW public school students, this age division culminates in a 3-day championship camp that includes workshops with some of the state's most experienced adjudicators.

Premier's Debating Challenge for Years 7 and 8

Program Literature and language arts
Years 7 and 8
Open to NSW government school students, the competition culminates in a three-day championships camp that includes workshops with some of the state's most experienced adjudicators.

Premier's Debating Challenge for Years 9 and 10

Program Literature and language arts
Years 9 and 10
A state-wide competition with zone winners progressing to regional and state-wide knockouts to determine the state champion.

Premier's Debating Challenge for Years 11 and 12

Program Literature and language arts
Years 11 and 12
The competition is open to senior students in NSW government schools. Teams compete in a series of knockout debates to decide the winner of the prestigious Hume Barbour Trophy.

Primary Schools State Debating Championships

Program Literature and language arts
Years 5 and 6
Representative regional teams engage in a series of round-robin debates and workshops with experienced adjudicators. At the end of 5 rounds of competition, 4 teams compete in semi-finals with the winners going on to meet for the state championship.

Junior State Debating Championships

Program Literature and language arts
Year 9 and 10
Representative regional teams engage in a series of debates and workshops with experienced adjudicators with the winning regional team awarded the Neil Gunther Shield.

Combined High Schools representative debating

Program Literature and language arts
Years 11 and 12
NSW senior government school students trial for places in one of three representative Combined High Schools teams. Those teams then compete against other representative teams from various private school organisations in a bid to win the NSW Representative Debating Cup.
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Upcoming applications

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Upcoming events

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Debating calendar

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How to set up an online debate – using Google Meet and booking an online adjudicator

Duration: 4:24

This is a quick demonstration of how to set up an online debate using Google Meet and book an online adjudicator.

Video transcript – How to set up an online debate – using Google Meet and booking an online adjudicator
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