Stratford Girls' Grammar Pupil Wins KMAT Great Debate 2026

Eleanor, a pupil at Stratford Girls’ Grammar School, has won the individual title at the KMAT Great Debate 2026, a Key Stage 3 public speaking competition for schools across Coventry and Warwickshire. Her school had entered the competition for the first time only a fortnight earlier, according to the organisers.

Stratford’s other entry, King Edward VI School, also finished among the leading speakers: its pupil Will shared third place in the individual tournament with Abi, of the host school, Kenilworth School and Sixth Form.

The competition is run by the Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust (KMAT). The organisers sent us their account of the day, the event programme, the final school league table and the photographs on this page.

Champion in her school’s first competition

Eleanor had already been picked out as a StandOut Debater earlier in the competition, the organisers say. In the final she spoke into a microphone in front of a full hall and, in their words, “maintained her composure through a fiercely contested final”.

Amy Paull, a teacher at Stratford Girls’ Grammar, said:

“Everything was so slick and well run, and the students had such a fantastic experience. We’re still buzzing from the win!”

2 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: supplied by the KMAT Great Debate

How the two Stratford schools did in the team table

The organisers also sent the final school league table. Twelve schools each played 20 debates. Stratford Girls’ Grammar finished sixth and King Edward VI School seventh, both on 32 competition points, six behind the joint leaders.

• Stratford Girls’ Grammar School: won 10, drew 2, lost 8. Debate points 227 for, 220 against (plus 7). Ranked 6th.
• King Edward VI School: won 9, drew 5, lost 6. Debate points 203 for, 200 against (plus 3). Ranked 7th.

The totals in the table work out at three competition points for a win and one for a draw. Lawrence Sheriff and Hartshill Academy both finished on 38 points from 12 wins and 2 draws; Lawrence Sheriff ranked first, with a debate points difference of 24 to Hartshill’s 10. Kenilworth School were third on 36 and Warwick School fourth on 35.

Share this chartFacebookWhatsAppXCopy linkEmbed

Source: KMAT Great Debate school league table, supplied by the organisers.

Five minutes to find out which side you are on

The competition uses a format its organisers call Debate Boxing. Pupils research both sides of every motion beforehand, and only learn which side they must argue when a five-minute preparation window opens. In that window they also find out who speaks first. Only notes written during those five minutes can be used in the debate, and debaters and their assistants may not use mobile phones at the final.

The programme lists the ten motions set for the final:

1. Communities should be expected to prepare for emergencies rather than rely on emergency services.
2. University is the best route to a successful career.
3. Boys should be taught differently to girls.
4. CCTV makes communities safer.
5. Nuclear power is the answer to our planet’s dependency on fossil fuels.
6. Parkruns are more about improving mental health than physical health.
7. Studio-recorded music is better than live music.
8. Technology has made reading less important.
9. The convenience of online shopping outweighs its disadvantages.
10. Social media does more good than harm during humanitarian emergencies.

During each group-stage round, 24 debates ran at once in the hall, with debate assistants moving between tables to pass research and statistics to their speakers. The hall was dressed with stage lighting, a smoke machine and its own soundtrack.

3 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: supplied by the KMAT Great Debate

Aaron Dudley, Head of Year 11 and the event’s co-ordinator, writes in the programme that the format began in 2015, when an English classroom was turned into a debating ring for an open evening, and that “a Year 8 student calmly dismantled an Assistant Headteacher’s argument”. Kenilworth held a Key Stage 3 event with Westwood Academy in May 2023, and group stages and knockout rounds followed in 2024.

“Debate is not simply about winning an argument,” he writes. “It is about listening, questioning, thinking critically and having the confidence to stand up for what you believe. It is about discovering that disagreement need not divide us, but can challenge us to think more deeply and see the world differently.”

He says the day is run by pupils: “From those managing the technical desk and leading proceedings to those keeping everyone fed and watered in the canteen, our students provide the leadership that makes today possible.”

Four mayors and the Lord-Lieutenant on the judging panel

The judges included four mayors: Cllr Alison Insley, Mayor of Kenilworth; Cllr Sarah Boad, Mayor of Leamington Spa; Cllr Simon Parteger, Mayor of Warwick; and Cllr Nooria Sayani, Mayor of Rugby. Tim Cox, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, judged the competition for the first time.

Mr Cox said:

“I was delighted to be asked to become a judge at the KMAT Great Debate. The atmosphere in the hall was amazing. The students were all focused to do their best, but they were also enjoying themselves.”

Cllr Parteger wrote on social media: “Events like this are fantastic opportunities to encourage the next generation to speak up, listen to others and debate important issues respectfully.”

Cllr Boad added: “What an amazing event - a great opportunity for students to practice their debating skills!! I loved all the razamataz too!”

2 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: supplied by the KMAT Great Debate

The British Red Cross used the day to launch its Humanitarian Debater Award, built around the first motion on the list: whether communities should prepare for emergencies rather than relying on the emergency services. Mairi Allan, Head of Youth at the British Red Cross, said:

“It was fantastic to see young people engaging in humanitarian topics, understanding the complexities involved and building their own confidence and skills to stand up for humanity.”

Susan Rasmussen, High Sheriff of Warwickshire, attended as a guest:

“We often think that our teenagers temporarily lose the power of human speech for a year or two while they go through adolescence. I can’t think of a better antidote to today’s pervasive screen culture than joining a school debating society. I was really impressed by what I saw and heard at this event.”

Losing teams handed over their research

The organisers say pupils whose teams had been knocked out passed their research to the competitors who had beaten them.

Hayden Abbott, chief executive of the Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust, said:

“This year’s KMAT Great Debate brought together students from schools within and beyond Warwickshire, with an exceptionally high standard of public speaking throughout the competition. From the moment the finalists entered the room, the atmosphere was electric, and that sense of excitement and energy continued throughout the event.”

He thanked the pupils, school staff, judges, community volunteers and sponsors. Student volunteers from Kenilworth School helped run the day.

6 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: supplied by the KMAT Great Debate

Previous winners

The programme lists earlier champions. In 2024 The Westwood Academy was the winning school and its pupil Lola the individual winner. In 2025 Finham School was the winning school, and Louise, of Kenilworth School, won the individual title.

What it means for you

Two Stratford schools now have a record in the competition: an individual champion at Stratford Girls’ Grammar in its first year, and a shared third place at King Edward VI School. If your child would like to take part, ask their school whether it plans to enter again. The organisers say a 2027 National Showcase is on the horizon.

The KMAT Great Debate posts results and photographs on Facebook and Instagram.

For more from schools across the district, see our report on Alcester Academy’s Ofsted report card.

Has your school, club or group got news? Send it to us.