London Debate Challenge

The London Debate Challenge began in 2001 (as the London Debate Programme) with the aim of bringing debating to all of London’s boroughs, by offering training to all maintained schools in the capital. The LDC began 2001, and nine years later debating has been taken up by schools and local authorities with vigour across London.

The annual London Debate Challenge gives teams of pupils from year 7-10 from each of London's 32 boroughs a new outlet for their debating skills. The ESU assists each borough in running a competition amongst government maintained schools to select a team to take part in the pan-London final organised by the English-Speaking Union on 1 July.

LDC format

The LDC debates consist of two teams, with three speakers on each team (extended Mace format). After the main four speeches, the debate opens up to the floor, and then the summary speakers sum up the debate and answer floor questions. The Opp summary goes first, followed by the Prop summary. The main speeches are 3 minutes in length (with 30 seconds protected at the beginning and end of the speech), and the summary speeches are 2 minutes long, with no Points of Information.

Registration fee

The registration fee for this year’s competition is £100 per borough. This fee covers:

• Training day (including refreshments and teaching materials)
• two judges for each borough competition
• entry to Finals’ day (including refreshments, lunch, teaching materials)

Please make cheques payable to 'The English-Speaking Union', and post to 37 Charles Street, W1J 5ED, FAO: Kallina Basli.

Further details

• Important dates
• Resources
• Contact details & opportunities
• List of winners