English // Speaking & Listening
Formal Debates
Participate in formal debates and structured discussions — presenting a position with supporting evidence, responding to others’ points, summarising and building on what has been said, and following rules of discussion
Quick check
Has the learner taken part in a school debate where they had to argue a position with evidence, respond to the other side's points, and keep to the rules of formal discussion?
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Topic // Mastery
What mastery looks like
- Present an argument in a debate with a clear claim supported by evidence
- Respond to an opposing point by summarising it fairly before offering a counterargument
- Build on a previous speaker’s idea by extending, questioning, or challenging it constructively
Topic // Map
Where this fits
- RequiredMust come first
- HelpfulHelps, but not essential
Before this
2 topicsSpeaking & Listening // Ages 11 to 14
Formal debate requires confident public speaking skills first
- Persuasive WritingHelpful
Writing Composition // Ages 11 to 14
Debating requires skills in constructing arguments with evidence from argument writing
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Formal Debates
Ages 12 to 14 // Method
Leads to
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Topic // Standards
Curriculum standards
- The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document
- KS3-ENG-SE-1c
English // Speaking & Listening
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