The Schools’ Mace debating competition follows the two-team Mace format. In the process of the competition, students develop their knowledge of the world, as well as their reasoning and presentation skills, in a fun and competitive environment.
2024/2025 COMPETITION
Entries to the 2024/2025 School’s Mace are now closed.
Entry to the Mace will cost £50 per school for state schools. For independent schools the cost is £60 for one team, and £30 for each additional team.
The 2024-2025 Schools’ Mace will consist of three preliminary rounds, with a break to a quarter-final. The preliminary rounds will be held on the 28th September and 5th October.
The school’s Mace Final will be held in Edinburgh on Saturday, 22nd February 2025.
The format we will use will be as follows:
Each round will be run as one debate with two teams – a proposition and an opposition. One of these teams will be declared the winner. Each team has two speakers, with one speaker returning to deliver a summary speech.
We will not be running the Mace as a knock-out competition. Instead, the break will be decided based on the number of wins and speaker scores teams accumulate over the course of the preliminary rounds. This guarantees schools at least three chances to debate. Your school’s assigned Mace date will see your debaters take part in three rounds over one day.
If your school is new to the Mace Competition and would like additional information on the Mace format or debating in general, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Motions
The first of the three preliminary motions will be a prepared motion. Debaters are permitted to do research on this topic, can receive outside assistance, and are allowed to bring notes into the debate with them. Teams will not know the side they are on for this debate until one week before their round. Teams may request clarifications on the motion, and all clarifications issued will be made public to schools taking part in the competition.
The other two preliminary rounds will be unprepared. Teams will be given one hour to prepare for these debates, and will not be permitted outside help. They are also not allowed to use the internet for research, but will be allowed to use any printed or written materials they have with them (e.g.: a case-file, almanac etc.)
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and Grand Final will all be prepared motions. Teams will be given their sides in advance of these rounds.
2023/2024 COMPETITION
On Thursday 30th May 2024, Young Speakers Scotland held the final of the Schools Mace Competition at The Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. This is the longest running schools debating competition in Scotland and one of the most prestigious events in the annual debating calendar.
Competing in the quarter finals were teams from St Columba’s School, Dollar Academy, Broxburn Academy (Teams 1 & 2), Edinburgh Academy, Wellington School (Teams 1 & 2) and Stirling High School. Of these, two progressed to the Grand Final: St Columba’s and Dollar Academy.
Debaters from Dollar Academy and Stirling High School taking part in the quarter final.
After a closely fought, high quality final the debate was awarded to the team from St Columba’s School. The runners up were the debaters from Dollar Academy. Both teams impressed the judges during this very close debate with high quality argument and rebuttal.
Debaters from St Columba’s School and Dollar Academy in the Grand Final.
Thank you to everyone who made our Mace Grand Final possible: teachers, volunteers, supporters and, of course, the debaters themselves!
The winning team of the Schools Mace 2023/2024, Sophie H and Callum H from St Columba’s School.
Runners up of the Schools Mace 2023/2024, Natalie Y and Logan M from Dollar Academy.