Applications for this year's Debate Academy (July 23 - 26) are now open.

Apply now »

• Are you a beginner who wants to learn how to debate?
• Do you have some experience of debate and want to get better?
• Fancy yourself a bit of a pro already and want to get some advanced coaching to help you win more competitions?
• Whichever you are, if you are between 14 and 18, Debate Academy has a course for you.

What do you get?

• A faculty of debate experts including national debate coaches, World Champions, successful schools coaches and university debaters
• 3 nights accommodation and full board at Oakham School in Rutland
• Debate materials to take away with you
• At least 5 debates with in-depth feedback
• Workshops on topics from “how to structure an argument” to “delivery” and “rebuttal”
• Lectures on how to use subjects such as law, economics and science in debates
• Display debates by experts
• Social activities where you can meet other young debaters from across the country
• A course that is tailored to your level – beginner, intermediate or advanced

A Debate Academy course costs £200. There are full and partial bursaries available in cases of financial difficulty. Bursaries are only allocated once we have received all applications. To apply for a bursary please ask a parent or teacher for a letter of recommendation and send it in with your signed Terms and Conditions form and full payment. We will hold your payment as a deposit to secure your place at the Academy while we consider if you are eligible for full or partial assistance.

Regular updates about course content and preparation will be added to this website between now and July. Capacity is approximately 120 students and every year we are oversubscribed: you should register your interest early to be guaranteed of a place.

If you have any questions, please contact the Speech and Debate team at speech.debate@esu.org.