About NJDC

The Northern Junior Debating Championship is an under-16s debating competition, held in the British Parliamentary format. To be eligible for the 2010 competition speakers must be aged under 16 on 31 August 2010 - this is equivalent to being of year 11 age or younger in England.

This year's competition will be held on Saturday, 25 September.

Format

All teams participate in three rounds of debating, with the top four teams qualifying for the final.

The first motion will be released at least a week before the competition, but the motions for the second and third rounds and for the final will be announced fifteen minutes before the debates start. The wording of the motions will be clear and the issues accessible.

British Parliamentary is the style of debating used in the Oxford, Cambridge and Durham schools debating competitions along with ICYD. Each debate consists of four teams of two speakers, with two teams on the proposition and two on the opposition. If your school has not taken part in British Parliamentary debates before please use the contact form and we will e-mail you a guide to the style. The workshop in the morning of the competition will cater for both beginners and more advanced speakers.

See also the NJDC team

Food

A lunch and sandwich tea will be provided for competitors, coaches and supporters; both are included in the entrance fee.

What sort of teams take part?

The range of experience of teams taking part at NJDC is varied. Each year we have had several teams that have reached the final or a semi-final at the International Competition for Young Debaters the year before, but also a significant number who have never previsouly debated competitively. Similarly we have both a significant number of teams from the North East and a large number from much further afield - last year we had teams from Tunbridge Wells and from Dundee. This year we are particularly eager to see Irish teams taking advantage of the Ryanair flights from Dublin after their strong showing at ICYD finals day. The youngest teams to take part are usually aged around 12.

Provisional times

Provisional times are as follows: workshops will run from 9.15am; registration will close at 11.30am; the final and the announcement of the winners should be finished by 7.00pm. A more detailed timetable will be available nearer the time. Lunch and tea are included within the entrance fee.