Read our 2018 annual report
Registration for the Concern Debates is now open for our 2020-21 programme! The Concern Debates will now be running a fully online programme next year.
To register your place, please contact debates@concern.net or click the button below to register your interest.
The Concern Debates programme is open to senior cycle students and runs from October with the final taking place in May.
The programme will be run online from next September. Participating teams will record videos of their speeches to be marked online by our volunteer adjudicators.
All schools will get the chance to take part in four unique debates and learn about development issues and the work of Concern.
If you like what you’ve heard so far, please sign up below and a Concern member of staff at debates@concern.net will be in touch with further information about our online competition.
Here are the several stages of the Concern Debates.
Registration
Registration for the Concern Debates usually begins around the summer holidays. By registering, you are not guaranteed a place. A Concern Debates staff member will be in touch to let you know if your application is successful. At the start of every debate phase, the dates and venues for the coming year are announced once teams have registered. Registration closes Friday, September 8th this year.
League phase
Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
National final
Some of our past debaters talk us through how the Concern Debates gave them valuable life skills, while also offering words of wisdom to current debaters.
New to Debating? Not sure how to structure your speech and gain top marks? Check out the students from Portmarnock Community School below. The full training series can be followed on YouTube or our materials page.
Each video highlights where the students are getting marked and are a good introduction to get acquainted with the marking sheet.
Adjudicators Handbook |PDF(2 MB)
Debates Timekeeper Sheet|PDF(3 MB)
Debates Marking Sheet.pdf|PDF(3 MB)
Chief Adjudicator Results Form|PDF(75 KB)
Debates Handbook |PDF(4 MB)
Debates Chairperson's Speech|PDF(2 MB)
I’ve learned a lot of new skills. Last year, I was stuttering over myself while making an English presentation. Now I can go into a room and speak in front of 100 people and not be nervous at all.
If you're ready to get involved, please sign up below and a Concern member of staff will be in touch with further information.
