Debating

Years 5 to 12

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

A variety of digital resources are available and offer valuable insights to participants and support teachers in establishing and delivering successful debating programs in their school.

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Student team planning their notes for the debate

Programs

The Premier's Debating Challenge

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.

Primary Schools State Debating Championships

Literature and language arts
Year 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

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 Debating

Literature and language arts
Year 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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Related digital resources

Primary school debate club

Art Bites Literature and language arts
Upper primary debating

Useful frameworks for writing, developing and presenting an argument.

High school debate club

Art Bites Literature and language arts
Secondary debating

Useful frameworks for writing, developing and presenting an argument.

Coaching primary debating

Creative Teachers Literature and language arts
Primary teachers, debating

Teachers who are coaching or facilitating debating in a NSW primary school setting will find this a valuable resource.

NSW Premier's Debating Challenge finals

Creative Resource Literature and language arts
Year 5 to Year 12
Gain valuable insights by watching the finals of the NSW Premier's Debating Challenge.
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