This information reflects the Society's web site at the date you downloaded or printed it and you should check at www.lawscot.org.uk to see if it is still current.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Law Society of Scotland’s Schools Debating website!  The Society's tournament is sponsored by Simpson and Marwick solicitors, and Hodder Gibson publishers.         

We believe debating is good fun, teaches skills which are invaluable at university, job interviews and in employment, and that anyone can take part - this website is not only designed to support our own competition but to support all debating and public speaking in schools, and provide everything you need to know about the basics of debating.

In this section we aim to provide  news and information:

  • NEWS:  The winners of the 2007/2008 tournament were Robert Gordon's College, and the runners-up High School of Dundee. Congratulations to them, and to our other finalists Mearns Castle High School and Douglas Academy. A truly wonderful achievement all round !
  • NEWS:   We will be accepting registrations for the 2008/2009 tournament shortly after school commences in August.
  • NEWS: Learning and Teaching Scotland launched the "Debating in Schools" website in September 2007. Click here to go straight to the website and learning materials.
  • NEWS: The Commission for Equality and Human Rights is the Society's partner in the 2007-2008 tournament. Motions will cover equality, diversity, and human rights issues. Further information will follow as the tournament develops. Meantime, click on the image below to be taken to the Commission's website:

            

  • for schools, teams and coaches that have not previously been involved in debating
  • that will help each individual debater realise that they too can take part, even if they have never debated before
  • activities new and experienced debaters and coaches can use to improve their skills – whether on their own, practising as a team, or in a school debating club
  • on the specifics of our own competition – the largest in Scotland
  • links to other relevant websites and organisations
  • FREE LEARNING RESOURCES - to go straight to our free learning materials to support debating please click here

The learning materials are also supported by free debate DVD. A DVD was sent to every secondary school in Scotland in October 2006. If you would like a copy, contact debate@lawscot.org.uk

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In addition, in 2007, the Society was a Partner in the national project "A Union for a' that".  A new multimedia DVD resource, which includes (i) footage of the Society's 2006/2007 final, (ii) a radio clip of the winners and runners-up discussing debating on BBC's "Scotland at Ten", and (iii) a short film on the Union made by the winners, is being distributed to all primary and seconary schools in Scotland before the Christmas break in 2007. Look out for your copy, which we hope you will use as yet another learning resource. It looks like this:

We are also keen to hear from you!  Do you have top tips that might help other debaters, do you have feedback on our competition, or do you want to ask a specific question you can’t find the answer to in this section? If so, feel free to e-mail us at debate@lawscot.org.uk