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The Great Debate 2019: speeches
What was the greatest failure of the Age of Revolutions?
On Saturday 30 March 2019, a bright spring day, 21 students gathered at Windsor Castle for the Historical Association Great Debate final. The 21 finalists had already successfully won their local heats from across the UK and now they stood in the historic vaulted Vicar’s Hall, St George’s House, a stone's throw...
The Great Debate 2019: speeches
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The Great Debate 2025
The HA's public speaking competition open to school years 10-13
What is the Great Debate?
The Great Debate is a public speaking competition where students have 5 minutes to present their speech arguing their answer to the question.
Over the past couple of years the competition has been growing in size, to encourages many young people to get involved as possible...
The Great Debate 2025
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The Great Debate 2024: Speeches
Multipage Article
The final was held at the Vicars' Hall at Windsor Castle on 23 March 2024 and attended by 22 finalists from across the UK. This year each finalist needed to have taken part in a regional competition and one of three semi-final stages.
The competition question for this year was:...
The Great Debate 2024: Speeches
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The Great Debate 2020: speeches
Should we judge historical figures by the morals of today?
Many things have been different this year – especially things that involve people coming together physically in one setting. That was certainly the case for our Great Debate competition. Fortunately, all of the regional heats had taken place across the UK before the first lockdown came into effect last spring,...
The Great Debate 2020: speeches
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The Great Debate 2023: Speeches
Multipage Article
The 2023 Great Debate final was held on 25 March at the Vicars' Hall, Windsor Castle. The question for young people to address was:
“Why does history matter to me?”
Across the course of the day the judges and audience listened to talks on the personal experiences of finalists’ relatives in the...
The Great Debate 2023: Speeches
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The Great Debate 2022: speeches
The HA's public-speaking competition for students aged 16-19
The 2022 Great Debate final was held on 26 March at the Vicars' Hall, Windsor Castle. The question for young people to address was:
“The 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II has seen global and widespread changes including in: societal infrastructure, industry, rural life, the environment and ideas. Which changes of the...
The Great Debate 2022: speeches
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The Great Debate Final 2024
25th March 2024
Winner:
Emma Crow of Broxburn Academy, Broxburn, Scotland
Runners up:
Abigail Powers of The Ladies’ College, Guernsey
Erica Wright of William Farr School, Lincolnshire
Rachel McGarry of Shavington Academy, Crewe, Cheshire
Finalists
Sofia Ntege, North Oxfordshire Academy, Banbury
Harry Gray, Exeter School, Exeter
Rhea Cherrington, Bablake School, Coventry
Molly Grimshaw,...
The Great Debate Final 2024
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The Great Debate 2017: speeches
How did the First World War affect me and my community?
The final of the Great Debate 2016/17 took place on Saturday 11 March 2017 at the Imperial War Museum, London.
There were 20 finalists (one via video link) aged between 16 and 19 from our heats that took place across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Each student had...
The Great Debate 2017: speeches
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The Great Debate Final 2015
What does Magna Carta mean to me?
The final of the Great Debate 2015 took place on Saturday 14th March 2015 at Royal Holloway, University of London.
There were 18 finalists (aged between 16 and 19) from our heats that took place across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Each student had five minutes to present their...
The Great Debate Final 2015
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The Great Debate 2015 Winner
The Great Debate
The Great Debate 2015 Winner
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What is the Great Debate?
The Great Debate
In this short film from 2015 Heather Scott (former Deputy President of the HA and compere of our Great Debate Finals) & Martin Spafford (Judge from our London Heats) introduce the Great Debate, talk about why students should get involved and discuss what they enjoy about the Great Debate.
What is the Great Debate?
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The Great Debate 2012 Final
Why does history matter to you?
The final of the Great Debate 2012 took place on Saturday 10th March at Merton College, Oxford. There were 24 finalists (aged between 16 and 19) from our heats that took place across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Each student had five minutes to present their case on 'why does...
The Great Debate 2012 Final
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The Great Debate 2010 Final
Why does your local hero matter?
The final of the Great Debate 2010 took place on Saturday 13th March at Clare College, Cambridge. There were 19 finalists (aged between 16 and 19) from our heats that took place across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Each student had five minutes to present their case on...
The Great Debate 2010 Final
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The Great Debate: Advice for Students
The Great Debate
In this short film from 2015 Heather Scott (former Deputy President of the HA and compere of our Great Debate Finals) & Martin Spafford (Judge from our London Heats) provide advice for prospective students who might want to take part in the Great Debate. Martin and Heather also explain what...
The Great Debate: Advice for Students
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The Great Debate: the 2012 Winner
The Great Debate
In this short film Arianna Azari (Winner of our 2012 Great Debate competition) discusses why she took part in the Great Debate, what she got out of it, and gives her top tips for Public Speaking.
The Great Debate: the 2012 Winner
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Great Debate FAQs
The Great Debate
Below are some frequently asked questions about the Great Debate and the logistics of the heats.
If you need more information, you can get in touch with us directly at greatdebate@history.org.uk.
How does the debate work?
Each student will have five minutes to deliver their argument in response to the...
Great Debate FAQs
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Advice on Public Speaking
Podcast
At the Taunton/South West England heat of the Great Debate the head judge, Marcus Paul (Deputy Head of Queens College, Taunton), gave some valuable tips on public speaking.
If you are interested in public speaking or want to take part in our next Great Debate competition this podcast will prove...
Advice on Public Speaking
