The Great Debate

Alexander (2012, p.4) states:Pupils need for both learning and life, not only to be able to provide relevant and focused answers but also to learn how to pose their own questions and how to use talk to narrate, explain, speculate, imagine, hypothesise, explore, evaluate, discuss, argue, reason and justify. This project aims to develop quality discussion and debate in upper KS2 (pre-high school) through climate change and environmental issues.427BC is perhaps one of the ancient world’s best examples of an argument with something vital at stake with Diodotus arguing for clemency, and Cleon, “the most violent man at Athens”, opposing him. “The good citizen,” he insisted, “ought to triumph not by frightening his opponents, but by beating them fairly in argument.” We have seen the impact of arguments reflecting current agendas on the local, European and world stage: Brexit, Climate Change, world leaders and Social Media Intrusion have led to, not only heated arguments, but fights and even families and friends falling out. Have we lost the skill of debate? Can we not state our point of view without being insulting to those who hold a different belief? We want to create a positive learning outcome from recent public outbursts of anger and argument. We will, in this project, show children and young people how to debate fairly and to forge new skills to listen, explore other peoples' viewpoints and yet remain friends. This project will develop critical thinking, problem solving, public speaking experience (on a transnational stage), good oracy skills, conflict resolution, empathy, confidence and presentation skills. An independent evaluation of the first phase of The Plymouth Oracy Project proves that Oracy development improves pupil attainment, behaviour, confidence and attendance. Furthermore, disadvantaged pupils make significantly more progress and close the gap to their more affluent peers. This project will build upon the successes of the project to date and develop best practice materials and outcomes for discussion and debating in Key Stage Two and into Key Stage 3.