Primary school debates
Last year, over 400 primary schools were involved in debates nationwide.
CMAM2021
"CMAM 20 years on: Going to scale in fragile contexts": A conference for practitioners hosted by Concern Worldwide on 22–25 March 2021
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Get your school involved
Registration for the Concern Debates 2022-2023 Competition is now open.
Register for the Concern Debates programme (post primary)
If you have applied to take part in this year's competition, our Debates Team will be in touch very soon to confirm your place on the programme and provide next steps and training dates.
For more information on how to join our mailing list, please contact debates@concern.net
Adjudicators at the 2018 Concern Debates Final. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.
Concern Debates 2017-2018 Semi Final Adjudicators. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.
Concern Debate finalists 2019. Photo: Concern Worldwide.
St. Killian's German School at the Concern Debate Finals 2018. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.
Stages explained
Here are the several stages of the Concern Debates.
Registration
Registration for the Concern Debates usually begins before schools close for the summer holidays and continues into early September. Please note that completing the registration form does not automatically guarantee a place on the programme. A Concern Debates staff member will be in touch to let you know if your application is successful. Then your Debates journey can begin!
League Phase
Knockout Stage
Quarter Finals
Semi Finals
National Finals
Our debaters have their say
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.
Concern Debate: Our alumni have their say
Video training
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.
Concern Debates Training Video (1/5)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.
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