Kenilworth School's Aaron Dudley looks ahead to the return of the KMAT Great Debate.

Something electric is stirring in the heart of leafy Warwickshire. A wave of curiosity, ambition, and spirited discussion is sweeping through classrooms, corridors, and communities - and its name is the KMAT Great Debate.

This autumn, Kenilworth School will once again take centre stage as host of a competition that is fast becoming one of the most talked-about intellectual events in the region.

What began in October 2024 with just six schools is now exploding into a county-wide phenomenon: 23 secondary schools from across Coventry and Warwickshire have stepped up to the challenge for this year's showdown.

Due to overwhelming interest, 2025 will see the introduction of a qualification tournament.

Schools will battle it out in a league format, sharpening their arguments and raising their voices in pursuit of one goal: a coveted spot in the Grand Final on October 8.

The stakes? Huge.

The stage? Even bigger.

A map of the schools taking part in The Great Debate

The top ten teams will face an extraordinary panel of judges, hand-picked to reflect a broad and diverse spectrum of voices.

Regional representatives from Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green, and Reform parties will sit alongside alumni, community leaders, and professionals from across Warwickshire's business and civic landscape.

And behind the scenes? The entire event is student-powered.

Organised and led by our brilliant Key Stage 5 students - with key support from Key Stage 4 - this debate is not just about ideas. It is about leadership, creativity, and real-world experience.

Want to follow the action? Tune in on social media - just search for KMAT Great Debate.

We are already unveiling participating schools via our Facebook page, and that is where you will find the thrilling moment when we announce the finalists headed to the Grand Stage.

This is not just a competition it is a movement.

It is students taking charge. It is voices rising. It is the KMAT Great Debate - and it is unlike anything you have seen before.

"This will be one of the most creative and immersive debates for students in an competitive environment the scale of the KMAT debating has accelerated at a pace and we look forward to welcome many participants from new schools who have been attracted to the format of our debating," said KMAT CEO Hayden Abbott.

"I hope you will be enticed by invitation to join us."

See more here.