CMCI’s Professor Richard Howells was a judge at the national finals of the 2017 Debating Matters schools debating competition.
Six formers from all over the UK competed in the initial heats and then a series of regional finals across the country before the remaining 12 made it to the national decider held at the Museum of London.
Howells (far right in our picture) judged debates on the ethics of sharing of medical records and then the removal of statues of controversial historical figures. Part of the format involved grilling the teams himself.
The winners this year were Loreto Sixth Form College, Manchester; the runners up were the Burgate School and Sixth Form Centre, Hampshire. The annual event is run by the Institute of Ideas. More at: http://www.debatingmatters.com/