Northern Ireland Schools Debating Competition

The Northern Ireland Schools Debating Competition is an annual competition involving schools from across Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1993 by Dame Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle DBE DStJ during her time as Chairman of the Belfast Civic Trust; the final of the competition is held every year in the Senate Chamber of Parliament Buildings, Stormont. It is organised by the Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust (BBPT), and is sponsored by both the Telegraph Media Group and the T.E. Utley Memorial Fund. Lord Lexden of Lexden and Strangford OBE has been President of the competition since 1997 and Mrs. Jay-O'Boyle is chairman. Lord Trimble and Lord Dubs were patrons in 2010.

An average of over seventy schools enter the competition each year, with the first round usually beginning in late October. Each team consists of two students, and each round's motion is chosen to reflect a particular civic, social, political or even economic issue of the day. Motions for the Final have included "This House would Tax and Spend", "This House believes that the power of the United States has increased, is increasing and ought to be diminished", "This House believes that Northern Ireland badly needs 'Bog Standard' Comprehensive Schools." In the 2010 Final the motion was, "This House would welcome being part of a European Federal State." In the 2011 final, the motion was, "This House believes that Northern Ireland requires an official opposition because it has reached political maturity." The 2012 Final motion was "This House Would Welcome the Break-Up of the United Kingdom." The motion for the 2013 final was "This House believes that Europe and America are no longer fit to compete with the rise of Asia and Latin America".

In 2024, the motion was “This House believes that the voting age in all local and UK elections should be reduced to 16”.

Guest adjudicators at the final have included Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education; Viscount Cranborne, now the Marquess of Salisbury and former Leader of the House of Lords; the historian, Andrew Roberts; Guy Black, Lord Black of Brentwood, Executive Director of the Telegraph Media Group; author and parliamentarian Lord Dobbs, and the journalist and leader writer of The Times, Rosemary Righter.

Winners YearWinnersRunners-up1993/94Belfast Royal AcademySt. Malachy's College, Belfast1994/95Coleraine Academical InstitutionPortadown College1995/96Belfast Boy's Model SchoolBangor Grammar School1996/97Belfast Royal AcademyOmagh Academy1997/98St Patrick's Girls Academy, DungannonRoyal Belfast Academical Institution1998/99Belfast Royal AcademyBangor Grammar School1999/00Bangor Grammar SchoolCambridge House Grammar School, Ballymena2000/01St Patrick's Grammar School, ArmaghBangor Grammar School2001/02Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, BelfastBangor Grammar School2002/03Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, BelfastCambridge House Grammar School, Ballymena2003/04Bangor Grammar SchoolThornhill College, Derry2004/05Belfast Royal AcademyMethodist College Belfast2005/06Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, BelfastColeraine Academical Institution2006/07Royal Belfast Academical InstitutionThornhill College, Derry2007/08St Marys CBGS BelfastAntrim Grammar School2008/09Bangor Grammar SchoolOur Lady and St. Patrick's College, Belfast2009/10Rathmore Grammar SchoolRoyal Belfast Academical Institution2010/11Royal Belfast Academical InstitutionBangor Grammar School2011/12Dalriada SchoolBangor Grammar School2012/13St Columb's College, DerryBangor Grammar School2013/14St Colman's College, NewryRoyal Belfast Academical Institution2014/15Belfast High SchoolCross and Passion College, Ballycastle2015/16Bangor Grammar SchoolAbbey Christian Brothers Grammar School2016/17Bangor Grammar SchoolBelfast Royal Academy2017/18Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar SchoolLurgan College2018/19Belfast Boy's Model SchoolBedford Modern School2023/24Belfast Royal AcademyFoyle College2024/25Campbell College BelfastSt. Malachy's College, Belfast

By School TeamWonRunner-upYears wonYears runner-upBangor Grammar School571999/00, 2003/04, 2008/09, 2015/16, 2016/171995/96, 1998/99, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13Belfast Royal Academy511993/94, 1996/97, 1998/99, 2004/05, 2023/242016/17Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, Belfast312001/02, 2002/03, 2005/062008/09Royal Belfast Academical Institution232006/07, 2010/111997/98, 2009/10, 2013/14Belfast Boy's Model School201995/96, 2018/19-Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School, Newry112017/182015/16Coleraine Academical Institution111994/952005/06Campbell College Belfast102024/25-Belfast High School102014/15-St Colman's College102013/14-St Columb's College102012/13-Dalriada School102011/12-Rathmore Grammar School102009/10-St Marys CBGS Belfast102007/08-St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh102000/01-St Patrick's Girls Academy, Dungannon101997/98-Thornhill College, Derry02-2003/04, 2006/07Cambridge House Grammar School, Ballymena02-1999/00, 2002/03Foyle College01-2023/24Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle01-2014/15Antrim Grammar School01-2007/08Methodist College Belfast01-2004/05Omagh Academy01-1996/97Portadown College01-1994/95St. Malachy's College, Belfast01-1993/94Lurgan College01-2017/18Bedford Modern School01-2018/19 (When sorted by years won or lost, the table is sorted by the date of each team's first win)

Northern Ireland Schools Debating Competition

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