Registration
Welcome to Durham Schools 2009
Registration is now open, and this page contains all the information on how to go about registering as well as details of the competition itself.
UPDATE 08.09.2008
Thanks to those teams who have already registered.
We are pleased to announce that our Chief Adjudicator for Durham Schools 2009 is Jon Simons, a former Durham debater, who has run the competition himself on numerous past occasions and was the chief instigator of the Novice aspect of Durham Schools. Jon reached the final of the World Unversities Debating Championship, and now works as a Civil Servant at Downing Street.
Information on Deputy Chief Adjudicators will follow shortly.
Calum
Registration
There are two forms to complete in order to register: a finance/ registration form, which includes your contact details, teams and observers; and an accommodation form, which includes the required delegates' details for arranging your food and rooms.
If you would like copies of these forms please contact us through durhamschools@gmail.com, or on 0191 384 3724. We can provide the forms in electronic or hard form.
The registration form must be returned by 1st February 2009 at the latest, along with one cheque for the full amount, although we can not guarantee that places will still be available this close to the competition. If you submit your registration form online, we require receipt of your cheque (by post) within one week, in order to confirm your registration.
The accommodation form must be returned by 1st March 2009.
Organising Team
This year's competition is organised by Calum Jones, the DUS Tournament Secretary, and Anna Birley, DUS Treasurer. Calum and Anna both debated at school, and have been involved in various aspects of debating since coming to Durham. Their main role is to co-ordinate registration, accommodation and the other organisational necessities of a competition this size.
Our Chief Adjudicator is Jon Simons, a former Durham student. John reached the Semi-Finals of the World Universities Debating Championships, ran past Durham Schools competitions and inaugurated the Novice competition, and now works in the Cabinet Office.
Durham Schools also relies on a whole host of DUS members, who give up the weekend of and many hours before the competition to ensure a smooth-running and enjoyable event for all.
Bursaries
Following the success of last year's scheme, bursaries will once again be offered to schools in need of financial assistance in order to attend the competition.
To apply for a bursary, please contact us by email to obtain the necessary form.
We will hold competition places for all schools whose bursary applications are being processed. If you are applying for a bursary, please do not return competition application forms or payment until you are informed of our decision. The usual deadlines for returned forms (1st February for application forms and 1st March for accommodation forms) still apply, so please make your application in plenty of time- I would recommend the turn of the year as a sensible target.
Competition
Durham Schools 2009, like previous competitions, will conist of 5 rounds of British Parliamentry debating, with speeches of 5 minutes in length. The top eight teams will break to Semi-Finals, with two teams from each progressing to the Grand Final, held in the Durham Union Society's debating chamber, on the World Heritage Site beside Durham's Cathedral and Castle.
Alongside the main break, we will once again be running a novice classification, from which the top four teams in the preliminary rounds (who did not make the main break) will progress to the Novice Final, also held in our debating chamber. Details on novice qualification can be found below.
The initial team cap for Durham Schools 2009 is 100 teams, with possible scope for expansion to 108, dependent on demand.
There is a strict institutional cap of 2 teams. This means that no more than two teams from each school may register for the competition. Each school may bring a maximum of two observers, which includes the accompanying teacher.
Provisional Schedule
Saturday 21st March 2009
Registration- 10:30am- 1:00pm
Round 1- 2:00pm
Round 2- 4:00pm
Dinner- 6pm
Round 3- 7:30pm
Social- 9:00pm
Sunday 22nd March 2009
Brekfast- from 7:00am (in colleges)
Round 4- 9:30 am
Round 5- 11:30am
Lunch- 1:00pm
Main break announced, Sem-Finals, Novice Finals 2:00pm
Grand Final 4:00pm
This timetable is subject to change.
Accommodation
All debaters and observers will once again be accommodated in University, Hatfield and St Mary's colleges. We endeavour to keep teams and their coaches as close together as possible. Please return your accommodation forms by th deadline of 1st March 2009 to ensuer that we can do so.
In a change to recent years, those housed in St Mary's will be provided with dinner in the college on Saturday night, so as to negate the rush to return to Hatfield to eat after dropping off bags. Brekfast will be served in each college.
Vegetarian options are available for all meals, and we are currently negotiating for the provision of Kosher and Halal alternatives. Dietary requirements should be filled in on the accommodation form.
Entertainment
Durham Schools has deservedly gained a reputation in recent years as a competition not only of the highest standards in schools debating, but also as an enjoyable weekend for all involved. This is an aspect we hope to build upon in next year's competition, so expect good fun alongside the obvious thrill of great motions and intense competition.
On the Saturday night, a social event will be held in Hatfield college bar for all debaters, featuring a bar quiz with an as of yet undecided but undoubtedly very exciting prize. Teachers/ coaches are welcome to come along to 24 North Bailey Club, the Union's own bar, which boasts the best cocktail selection in the University.
We are also in the process of organising entertainment for those staying on Sunday night.
Novice qualification
In order to enter as a novice team, both debaters in that team must meet all of the following requirements:
- Debaters must be in their first (academic) year of competitive debating; ie., this school year must be the first in which they have been entered into competitions.
- Debaters must not have broken (reached the knock-out rounds) of another schools debating competition, such as the Oxford or Cambridge finals days.
- Debaters must not have attended a previous Durham Schools competition.
Contact
If you have any questions, regarding the registration process, the competition, accommodation or dietary issues, or novice qualification, please do not hesitate to contact us.
e-mail: durhamschools@gmail.com
phone: 0191 384 3724
We look forward to hearing from you in the coming months.
Calum Jones
DUS Tournament Secretary
Convener, Durham Schools 2009
