Concern Post-Primary Debates
Rated Advanced, Concern Debates is a long-form schools programme in which students repeatedly research and argue global-justice motions rather than preparing for a single one-off speech. Senior-cycle schools across the island of Ireland register teams of four to six students through a teacher. The season rewards evidence-led argument, rapid rebuttal, coordinated team roles, confident delivery, and the resilience to improve across many rounds.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Advanced Level
6 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
15–19
School level
Senior cycle / post-primary (TY, 5th, 6th year; NI pathway supported)
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
League phase (online), knockout (online), quarter-finals (in-person), semi-finals (Dublin), all-island final
Fee
Not yet announced by the organiser
Online / in-person
Hybrid
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
Not yet announced by the organiser
Registration closes
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition starts
24 Sept 2026
Competition ends
6 May 2027
Editorial perspective
Our Take
Concern Post-Primary Debates is not a single prepared-speech event. School teams work through changing motions over a long season, often taking positions they did not choose. That repeated movement matters. Students learn that public questions are not solved by collecting forceful quotations; they require definitions, evidence, attention to consequences and the ability to answer another person's strongest point. Concern Worldwide places the programme inside its development-education work, so motions often lead students toward inequality, conflict, climate, migration and global responsibility. The best preparation is neither a generic debate handbook nor a folder of dramatic statistics. Teams need a method for understanding whose experience is being discussed, checking claims and recognising when a policy that sounds principled produces unequal effects. This competition is worth attention because a season can change how a group works. Speakers, researchers and questioners must trust one another, and students who are initially quiet may become the person who spots a false assumption or finds the decisive example. A coach should cultivate that shared intelligence rather than build the team around one confident voice.
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
Concern Debates
Open resource ↗The official programme overview covering participation, development issues and the debate pathway.
Official · Free · Programme overview · Essential
Concern Debates Materials
Open resource ↗Handbooks, motions, speech structure, rebuttal exercises, worksheets and adjudication sheets for direct practice.
Official · Free · Debate resource library · Essential
Concern Debates Programme Stages
Open resource ↗Explains the league, knockout and final stages so teams can prepare roles and strategy for each round.
Official · Free · Competition format guide · Recommended
Source information
Related competitions
Science & Research · Advanced Level