Debating For Everyone is an agency offering training and consultancy for debating and public speaking, founded and led by Julian Bell.
From 2000 to 2021 Julian Bell was Head of English and Debating at Godolphin and Latymer School in London. In September 2021 he retired from teaching to devote himself full time to his passion for debating. He provides training in debating to students in prep, primary and secondary schools both in person and online across the UK, and overseas, including schools in Spain and the USA. He also runs a number of debating competitions both online and in person.
Julian Bell is the author of The Debating Book: everything you ever need to know about debating, an introduction to the basic skills and practices of debating for students and teachers, and Think Like A Debater, which covers all the most commonly debated issues in depth, while also training debaters in thinking skills. Links to buy both books are below.
In November 2024, one of Julian's students was selected for the England schools debating squad.
Debating programmes
Julian has worked with the following schools to set up debating programmes:
- Radnor House School, Sevenoaks
- The German School in London
- Deer Park Primary School, Twickenham
- Vineyard Primary School, Richmond-upon-Thames
- Harry Gosling Primary School, Tower Hamlets
- Glen Park Primary School, South Kensington
- St Catherine's School, Eastbourne
- Westminster Academy
- Sacred Heart High School, Hammersmith
- Orleans Park School, Twickenham
- Grey Court School, Ham
- The Old Vicarage School, Richmond-upon-Thames
- Haberdasher's Aske's Boys' Prep School
- Eaton Square Prep School, London
- Glendower Prep School, London
- Kensington Prep School, London
- Sarum Hall Prep School, London
- Westminster Under School, London
- Queen's College, London
- Queen's Gate School, London
- Francis Holland School, Regent's Park
- Highgate School, London
- Charterhouse School, Surrey
- Lingfield College, Surrey
- Bromley High School
- St Alban's High School
- Stamford School, Lincolnshire
- Ellesmere College, Shropshire
- Oak House School, Barcelona
- London Academy of Excellence
- The Association of Muslim Schools (an umbrella organisation representing 175 Muslim schools across the UK)
Julian runs weekly clubs for Y5-6 students at Glendower Prep School in South Kensington, Deer Park School in Twickenham, and Old Vicarage School and Vineyard School in Richmond-upon-Thames. He also runs weekly online clubs for Y9-11 students at Highgate School, and for Y8-10 students at a range of different schools. Since September 2024, Debating For Everyone has been running Get Debating, a programme sponsored by Glendower Prep School to set up and run debating clubs in a wide range of state primary schools in South Kensington and Chelsea.
Julian was recently interviewed on Canadian radio, offering advice to politicians on how to prepare for debates. You can listen to the interview here: How to prepare for debates.
Debating For Everyone is unique in that all training is delivered exclusively by Julian Bell. Whereas comparable debating training agencies are likely to use student trainers with little or no teaching experience, he brings 35 years' experience of teaching and over twenty years of being at the heart of schools debating.
The Debating Book
Do you want to start debating, but don't know what to do? Have you just started debating and want to get better at it? Are you already an experienced debater and want to be the best you can be? Are you a teacher who wants to set up a debating club, or make your existing debating club even better? Are you a parent who wants to support your child with debating? Then this book is for you. Written with authority, passion and wisdom by one of the leaders of UK schools debating, it will tell you everything you ever need to know about debating.
Buy Now
Think Like A Debater
Do you want to be a better debater? Then you need to ... Think Like A Debater.
Think Like A Debater covers all the major debate topics. For each topic, it provides historical background and context; a detailed analysis of the issues, showing where ideas clash and why; a summary of arguments on both sides; a list of suggested debate motions; and recommended reading for further study. Reading it and using it will make you a better debater and a better citizen.
Buy now
Recommendations
Julian Bell from 'Debating for Everyone' delivered an exceptional workshop to our year 8 students.
Nancy Bowler-Ettman, Redden Court School, Havering
It was an amazing experience and I'd love to do it again.
Year 6 student, Haberdashers' Aske's Boys Prep School Elstree
The children were positively buzzing from the experience, and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to engage in intellectual sparring.
Russell Bloch, Haberdasher's Aske's Boys' Prep School, Elstree
Amazing workshop! It catered for everyone, from those who hadn't debated before to those who had been in competitions.
Student at Fitzwimarc School, Rayleigh
Mr Bell's feedback after each debate was very instructive, allowing the students to improve greatly over the course of the day.
Amy Zondermann, The London German School
Very fun and intense workshop. Learnt a lot and can't wait to continue debating next year!
Students at The London German School
The students learnt a lot and found the motions and topics debated and discussed interesting and challenging.
Tabitha Buckley, Sir John Leman High School, Beccles
Students interacted with each other about a range of topical issues, competed with each other but in a friendly, fun and civilised environment.
Sam Knight, Orleans Park School, Twickenham