The Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament is a national debating competition held throughout the year in Scottish Secondary Schools. It is one of the leading debating tournaments in Scotland and is organised annually by the Law Society of Scotland. It was created in 1999 to mark the Law Society of Scotland's 50th anniversary. It was later renamed in order to remember the life, work and passion of Donald Dewar, the first First Minister of Scotland. Since 2006, the final of the tournament has often been held in the debating chamber of The Scottish Parliament, in Edinburgh. In 2015, Jamie MacLeod and Ewan Redpath won the competition for Madras College. The 2016 competition had 128 teams participating, with winners Finlay Allmond and Caitlin Sherret from Nairn Academy. Charlie Holder and Fraser Cordiner went on to pick up a second win for Nairn in 2025, debating "This house would rather get an education in the year 2000 rather than 2025" Craigmount High School have won the competition a record three times- in 2007 2012, and 2014. Madras College, Glasgow Academy, Peebles High School, and Robert Gordon's College are the only other schools to have won the competition more than once.
Format of The Competition
The competition has four stages of debate. These take place throughout Scottish Secondary Schools from November to June, with the final being held in the Scottish Parliament. Round Format Venues 1 Teams are given two weeks to prepare Host Secondary School 2 Teams are given two weeks to prepare Host Secondary School Semi-Finals Teams are given one hour to prepare Host Secondary School Final Teams are given three weeks to prepare Scottish Parliament In 2023, the motion for the competition's final was subject to a late change, due to the fact that there was a death in the local community that was thought to be related to TikTok. This lead the Law Society of Scotland to change the motion from, "This House would ban TikTok", to "This House would support government intervention to prevent gentrification". Additionally, there was a change in the format of the semi-final debates due to heavy snow, meaning that some of the heats had to be moved online.
Winners YearWinning schoolSpeakersRunners-upSpeakers2025Nairn AcademyCharlie Holder, Fraser Cordiner2024Broxburn AcademyFinlay Sayers, Sarah PymBalfron High School2023Broxburn AcademyEmma Bell, Ruby FergusonBalfron High School2022Fortrose AcademyThe High School of Glasgow2021Peebles High SchoolThurso High School2020Peebles High SchoolBalfron High School2019Bearsden AcademyBalfron High School2018Peebles High School Helen Whalley, Mhairi SinclairPerth High School2017Douglas AcademyHigh School of Dundee2016Nairn AcademyFinlay Allmond, Caitlin Sherret2015Madras CollegeJamie Macleod, Ewan RedpathPreswick Academy2014Craigmount High SchoolLiam Stewart, Michael DavidsonDouglas AcademyRosie Duthie, Amitai Gottleib2013Robert Gordon's CollegeGlenalmond College2012Craigmount High SchoolCameron Craig2011Braes High School2010Glasgow AcademySéamus Macdonald McGuigan, Oscar Lee2009Glasgow AcademyAllen Farrington, Cosmo Grant2008Robert Gordon's CollegeJoanna Farmer, Michael SimHigh School of Dundee2007Craigmount High SchoolHigh School of Dundee2006Dollar AcademyHutcheson's Grammar School2005George Heriot's SchoolRobert Gordon's College
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