SHINE: Support and Help in Education - Debate Mate - Using formal, structured argument to help secondary students develop their reasoning skills, communication and confidence in a fun, yet challenging, way.

Debate Mate

The ability to communicate with clarity and coherence is an important life skill that many young people are never taught in school. Debate Mate trains Oxford and London undergraduates to run weekly after-school debating clubs in inner-city secondary schools.

Besides offering a new experience, debating helps disadvantaged teenagers develop their reasoning and speaking skills in a fun yet challenging way. Initial signs are promising and, with SHINE's help, Debate Mate is now expanding across the country.

You can read more about Debate Mate and the experience of Cerith Evans, a student mentor, on page 7 of SHINE's 2010 Supporters' Magazine. Download Now

The grant recipient

Urban Unlimited is a social enterprise company set up in 2007 to use debating and youth volunteering as a tool to help young people. By increasing their self-esteem, life skills and academic attainment, it aims to ensure that more of them will continue their education at university.

In 2009/10 Debate Mate clubs ran in 74 schools in areas of high deprivation in London, Birmingham and Manchester reaching around 1000 students.

Debate Mate

What it aims to do

use debating to develop communication, higher-order thinking and interpersonal skills, while building confidence and self-esteem
make debating accessible and enjoyable to young people who wouldn't normally have the chance to experience it

How it works

Trained undergraduate mentors go into secondary schools in deprived areas to run 16 weekly debating clubs each year. Once the participants have learned some basic debating skills, the mentors organise small, inter-school competitions. This gives their teams some experience of competitive debating ahead of the annual Richard Koch Cup, a contest for all participating schools.

Results

on average students exceeded their expected progress in English and History
86% of students stated that their ability to make a clear and structured argument had increased or increased greatly
teachers also reported that students' ability to structure an argument had improved and this had had a noticeable effect on schoolwork and exams

An independent evaluation by the New Economics Foundation showed that the programme was having a positive impact on participants' confidence, attitude and educational aspirations.

A similar programme in the USA - the Urban Debate Leagues - found that debating skills help participating students increase their literacy scores and exam grades.

The funding

SHINE's grant is funding the expansion of Debate Mate in London and Manchester.

Funding: Ł75,000 to Urban Unlimited, over three years (2010-12)

Visit Debate Mate's website

"Debating helps you structure your thoughts and speak logically and confidently, so it's important to look beyond just the smartest kids: those needing most help can benefit even more."