Get your school involved
Find out how to register your school for the next round of debates.
Read our 2018 annual report
Concern's objectives, activities and achievements in 2018 can be found in our new annual report.
Read the reportDebate materials
We’ve got a host of Debating material for you to download and if you’re still hungry for more, you can attend one of our workshops or debate days.
If you’d like a hard copy of any of the below resources, send an email with your name and postal address to debates@concern.net. Otherwise, get downloading!
Debates workshops
If you’re thinking of entering a team in the Concern Debates, but aren’t sure what’s involved, contact us to find out about our debates workshops.
We only offer cluster workshops in a number counties at the start of the debates year. We invite a number of debates teams to attend the workshop and students will get to experience fun games and activities to get them started on their debates journey.
At the end of the workshop, the students can put their new skills to the test in a mini-debate. It's an excellent way to introduce students to debating. It’s also a useful way to refresh your knowledge if you are already familiar with the debates.
Unfortunately due to demand we are not in a position to offer individual workshops in each school.
Concern Debates champions St. Kilian's German School from Clonskeagh holding their trophies at The Helix, Dublin. Photo: Ruth Medjber/Concern Worldwide.
Concern Debate finalists 2019. Photo: Concern Worldwide.
St. Kilian's German School at the Concern Debate Finals 2018. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.
Concern Debate Finals in the Helix Theatre. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.
Adjudicators watch on as a debate takes place. Photo: Concern Worldwide.
2017 Debates finalists St. Mary’s CBS Carlow and Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty at the unveiling of the motion for the final. Photo: Concern Worldwide.
Scenes from the 2016-2017 Concern Debates Final, The Helix, Dublin. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.
St. Mary's CBS at the Concern Debates Semi-Final. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.
Debate materials
Check out our range of Concern Debates handbooks and marking sheets to help you get started.
Debates Marking Sheet.pdf|PDF(3 MB)
Adjudicators Handbook |PDF(2 MB)
Chief Adjudicator Results Form|PDF(75 KB)
Debates Timekeeper Sheet|PDF(3 MB)
Debates Handbook |PDF(4 MB)
Debates Chairperson's Speech|PDF(2 MB)
Rounds 1-5 Motions Research Links|PDF(128 KB)
Video tutorials for students
These five videos provide a step-by-step guide to succeeding at the Concern Debates.
Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four
Part five
Concern Debates final video
Check out the fantastic debate between finalists, Largy College and Sandford Park School. If you are looking to participate in the Concern Debates programme next year, but you're not sure where to start, this video will give a great insight into how the debates are structured.
