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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Looking for an exciting event for your school's debating club? Look no further than our Training Days! These are all-day events and require a school willing to host. See our website for more details: youngspeakersscotland.org.uk/speak-up-sco...

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Congratulations to the top 20 speakers of this year’s Schools’ Mace. Debaters had to speak in one prepared and two unprepared rounds, with only 15 minutes of preparation time and no use of the internet. They needed strong general knowledge as well as the ability to construct persuasive arguments.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Congratulations to the following teams that have progressed to the Finals Day of the 2026/2027 Schools’ Mace Competition! This exciting day of debating will take place in Edinburgh on February 27th next year.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

On Monday 5th September we held the Highlands round of our Schools' Mace Competition. It has been wonderful to see schools debating grow in the Highlands over the last few years. Well done to all participants!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

On Saturday 3rd October we held the Edinburgh round of our Schools' Mace heat. The top teams guaranteed a spot at the Finals Day next year. These teams were: Craigmount High School, Currie Community High School, George Heriot's School and Tynecastle High School. Well done to all participants!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Yesterday we were in Ayr, at Wellington School, for the second regional round of our Schools' Mace Competition. Our judges were very impressed by the quality of debating. Well done to Hermitage Academy, Wellington School and Craigmount High School for earning spots at the Finals Day next year!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

On Thursday 24th September we ran the first of our preliminary rounds for our Schools’ Mace competition at Arbroath High School. 12 teams participated in a series of exciting debates. After three rounds, Aberdeen Grammar School and Robert Gordon’s College won spots at the Finals Day next year.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

We had a brilliant time delivering a full day of workshops to the pupils and teachers at Currie Community High School last week, in their wonderful Debating Chamber! If your school is interested in taking part in our Speak Up Scotland programme of workshops please visit our website.

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Scottish Schools Debating Team @scotlanddebating.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Hazel is kicking off our show debate. The motion is ‘This house, as a musician in a popular band, would choose to go solo’.

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Scottish Schools Debating Team @scotlanddebating.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Today is our first in-person training day with the 30 members of the Junior Squad. We’re starting the day with a workshop on analysis run by Heather, an alumni of our training squad!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The regional preliminary rounds of our Schools' Mace competition kick off on Thursday at Arbroath High School. All participants in the Schools' Mace will debate two unprepared motions and one prepared motion. This is our prepared motion this year:

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

It's wonderful to see debaters from such a wide range of schools represented in these prestigious squads, including many that have participated in our Speak Up Scotland programme. We wish team Scotland all the best as they prepare to select the National Team for the World Championships.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

We hope you're celebrating results day today and that you're pleased with your results. Whatever your grades, remember that they are just one snapshot in time - they don't define your worth, your potential, or everything you're capable of.

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Scottish Schools Debating Team @scotlanddebating.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Applications to coach the 2026/2027 Scottish National Team are now OPEN. We have various streams and therefore welcome applications from all experience levels. Here is the application form, which contains more information on the roles we're looking for: forms.gle/UYFkZEowe63n...

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Scottish Schools Debating Team @scotlanddebating.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Thank you, Kenya WSDC! Team Scotland is pleased to announce we had a blast in Nairobi at the World Championships. We reached the double-octos where we were knocked-out by our fabulous friends the Philippines, Zoe was ranked the 8th best European speaker and all three of our judges broke.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

We are at the Ayrshire Cup today - looking forward to seeing some great debating!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Last week YSS was in Aberdeenshire, delivering Speak Up Scotland workshops at Aboyne Academy and Banchory Academy. It was wonderful to see how much debating is growing in this region, and the enthusiasm of the pupils. We can't wait to be back!

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Scottish Schools Debating Team @scotlanddebating.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Well done to all the debaters for their exceptionally hard work this year! We can’t wait to see where your debating journeys take you next! Applications for next year’s junior squad will open after the Summer. Watch this space!

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Scottish Schools Debating Team @scotlanddebating.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

The day was extremely competitive, and after three preliminary rounds and a thrilling final, the winners were team Pink Sparkly Unicorns-made up of Gideon from Nairn Academy, Amelie from George Watson’s College, Juliet from Currie Community High School and Alice from James Gillespie’s High School.

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Scottish Schools Debating Team @scotlanddebating.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

On 13th June 2026, the Scottish Schools Debating Team held the final training day for our 2025/2026 Junior Squad. As has become tradition, this took the form of a competition - The Junior Scotland Cup.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Our Speak Up Scotland programme was in East Lothian this morning, introducing debating to the pupils at Knox Academy!

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Scottish Schools Debating Team @scotlanddebating.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Over the weekend, Team Scotland participated in the online Austria Pre-WSDC competition as part of our preparation for the World Championships in Kenya next month. Scotland performed very well at this tournament - breaking third overall after the preliminary rounds.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

We could not agree with more with @neilmackay.bsky.social - debating is an essential skill in today’s world. It’s never been more important to see both sides of an argument and argue clearly. Our goal is for every child in Scotland to have access to debating, no matter what school they go to.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

At the Craigmount Schools Debating Competition last week, teams from across Scotland competed in three unprepared rounds. The best teams broke to a gold and silver final. This competition is entirely pupil-run and free. Well done to the Craigmount pupils for putting together such a wonderful day!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Congratulations to Currie Community High School for winning Craigmount's Schools Debating Competition! This free, pupil-run tournament for junior debaters is always a highlight in the calendar. YSS judges were blown away by the level of debating. Well done to all the competitors!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Congratulations to James Young High School for winning the West Lothian Schools Debating Competition on Friday 29th May! This year YSS helped by providing motions and judges for this exciting event. Schools debating in West Lothian keeps getting better - it was an honour to be involved!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

We were in the Highlands & Moray last week, delivering workshops at Ardnamurchan High School, Invergordon Academy & Forres Academy. These free workshops help schools establish debating clubs. It was wonderful to see how much enthusiasm there is for debating up North, and we can't wait to be back! ✨

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

On Saturday 28th February, YSS held the Finals Day of our Schools' Mace debating competition. This was our biggest Finals Day ever, with schools participating from across Scotland! You can find a full write-up of the day on our website: youngspeakersscotland.org.uk/mace-finals-...

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Our Speak Up Scotland programme hit the ground running this year, with workshops at Craigmount High School, Caldervale High School, Currie High School, Gryffe High School and Earlston High School. We wrapped up this block of sessions yesterday with a brilliant workshop at Castlemilk High School!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Last week we visited the debating club at Craigmount High School for our first Speak Up Scotland workshop of 2026. Our focus was building strong arguments. The Craigmount debaters blew us away! This week we're visiting Gryffe High School and Broughton High School. We can't wait!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

On Saturday, 29th November we ran another edition of our annual St Andrew's Debate. After a day of brilliant debating, Broxburn Academy was crowned the winners of the Grand Final, delivering compelling arguments on the motion "This House Supports Nationalism".

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

We had a fabulous Speak Up Scotland workshop with the debaters at Drummond Community High School today! See our website for information on how your school can get involved.

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Scottish Schools Debating Team @scotlanddebating.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

After an exceptionally competitive trials, we are thrilled to announce the five speakers who will be representing Scotland at the 2026 World Schools Debating Championships in Kenya!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Congratulations to all the schools that made it through to the Finals Day of or Schools’ Mace Debating Competition, which will be held next year. This was one of our most competitive set of preliminary rounds ever, and all competing schools should be extremely proud!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Your nomination could help Young Speakers Scotland win £1,000 from the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good! It takes less than a minute to support our work helping young people across Scotland find their voice. Link here 👉 movementforgood.com/index.php?cn...

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

A long overdue island trip for Speak Up Scotland today, with back-to-back debating workshops at Arran High School. We can't wait to return!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

We had a brilliant day up north running a heat of our Schools Mace competition for pupils from Caithness and Orkney. Well done to Thurso for winning and earning a prestigious spot at our Finals Day next year!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

We’re in the Borders today for a back-to-back workshop extravaganza! We’ll start the day with the debaters at Earlston High School and then move on to Berwickshire High School for another exciting workshop. We can’t wait!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Teams are hard at work preparing for round 3 - this house would make teachers’ salaries dependant on the academic performance of their pupils.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Today is the first heat of our Schools Mace debating competition! We’re in Banchory, where 12 teams from around Aberdeenshire will compete for 3 spots at the prestigious Finals Day.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Today our Speak Up Scotland programme was at Linlithgow Academy, delivering a debating workshop to a club that’s going places! 🗣️ See our website for info on how your school can take part.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

We ended our week in Motherwell, running a Speak Up Scotland workshop with the incredible debaters at Our Lady’s High School! ✨

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

We were in Midlothian today, running a Speak Up Scotland workshop with the pupils at St David’s RC High School!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

Thank you to all the pupils who came to our training day at Currie High School. A great start to what’s sure to be a thrilling year of debating in Scotland!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

We’re kicking off our 2024-2025 Speak Up Scotland programme today with a workshop in Arbroath. Our free debating workshops help pupils gain confidence and critical thinking skills. See our website for details on how your school can get involved!

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Are you interested in debating for Scotland? Applications for the 2025/2026 team are now open! For more details about the various streams and a link to the application form please email scottishdebatingteam@gmail.com. Application forms are due by 13:00 on Sunday, 7th September 2025.

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

We concluded this year’s Speak Up Scotland programme today with a workshop with the brilliant S3 debaters at James Young High School in West Lothian. Thank you to all the wonderful schools that took part in the programme this year! We can’t wait to see you after the Summer break ☀️

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Young Speakers Scotland @youngspeakersscot.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

“Last year I lost every debate so it was great to see my hard work throughout the year pay off. I learned so much during the competition and can’t wait to debate more next year!" www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/invergo...

ross-shirejournal.co.uk

Invergordon Academy pupils triumph in debating competition

Pupils put their debating and public speaking skills into practise last week, at the second annual Highland Debating Competition for Schools.

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