England Schools Debating Team 2008

England has been represented in every World Schools Debating Championships since their inception in 1988. The team has reached the Grand Final on six occasions, winning the World Championships in 1993 and 1996. In the past three years the team has reached the Semi-Finals twice and the Final in 2005 in Calgary, Canada, and is currently ranked second in the world behind the world champions, Australia. (An Ashes series, anyone?)

From 1988-1995, the England Team was sponsored by The Observer, and from 1996 onwards by the English-Speaking Union. The delegation always includes an adult coach and one or more adjudicators. The Team is one of the ESU's flagship debating activities and inspires an unusual degree of affection from its alumni, many of whom have come back to the World Championships in later life as judges or to coach the team.

Information for 2008 applicants (archived - applications now closed)
Following a gruelling weekend of trials involved 48 students, the 2008 England Team were selected on Sunday evening. Congratulations and best wishes to Seb Farquhar, Emily Pearce, James Fox and Ben Woolgar, as well as to Debbie Newman, the England Coach.

History