Welcome to The Leeds Salon

The Leeds Salon is a public discussion forum founded in February 2009. The Salon organises discussions around political, cultural and scientific issues, with the aim of challenging any orthodoxies along the way, defending and developing the legacy of the Enlightenment and, above all, providing a space where free speech can take place. Find out more.

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It's Not About Whiteness, It's About Wealth by Remi Adekoya
Wednesday 24 April 2024

The Economics of Race: Is it About Whiteness or Wealth?

Leeds Salon welcomes author and University of York academic Remi Adekoya to discuss his recent book It’s Not About Whiteness, It’s About Wealth: How the Economics of Race Really Work What really matters when it comes to race? Western conversations on race and racism revolve around familiar themes; colonialism, the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and the ideology of white supremacism form the holy trinity of the race […]

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salon & school debating news

The Womble Bond Dickinson / Leeds Salon Years 10&11 Debating Competition 2024

Thursday 21st March, the final of our annual debating competition for years 10&11 students takes place at the Leeds offices of Headline Partner and leading transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (Leeds).

Following the qualifying rounds in January and February, Abbey Grange CofE Academy, Cardinal Heenan  Catholic High, Guiseley School and Mount St Mary’s Catholic High will compete to become 2024 champions.

This is the 11th year of the competition, which uses the format of the sixth-form Debating Matters competition.

FINAL details can be seen here.

Headline Partner

Womble Bond Dickinson (Leeds)

 

 

Prize Sponsors

Royal Armouries Museum (Leeds)
Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied (IDEA) Centre, University of Leeds
Tectonic Interactive Ltd

Sixth-Form Debating Competition

Thursday 16th November saw the first Royal Armouries Sixth-Form Debating Competition, run in partnership with The Leeds Salon.

Congratulations Grammar School at Leeds for being declared Royal Armouries Museum Leeds Champions 2023 after winning both of their debates.

Commiserations, but well done too, to Abbey Grange CofE Academy and Notre Dame Catholic Sixth-Form College for making it such a well-fought competitions over 3 debates. The winners received history books and vouchers each for 2 to watch the jousting and copies of the Academy of Ideas’ ‘Letters on Liberty’ from Debating Matters. They’ll also received certificates from the Royal Armouries.

Congratulations also Hannah de Dombal of Grammar School at Leeds for being nominated ‘Best Individual’ by our judges up against such close competition from the other debaters. Hannah received a history book and jousting vouchers from the Royal Armouries, and a signed copy of Timandra Harkness’ book Big Data from Leeds Salon, and she’ll also receive a certificate. From the museum.

Abbey Grange and Notre Dame also received copies of the Academy of Ideas ‘Letter on Liberty’ ‘Why Debating Matters’ by Debating Matters National Co-ordinator Mo Lovatt.

Thank you to our team judges for their tough questions and comments: Royal Armouries Director General Nat Edwards and Royal Armouries’ Florence Symington and Rebecca Lowe, Debating Matters’ Geoff Kidder, leading surgeon Simon Kay OBE, artist and writer Annabel Carington and Leeds Salon’s Dan Clayton. And thank you to co-organiser, the Royal Armouries’ Chloe Coleman.

The competition used the format and topic guides of Debating Matters, and was a DM20for20 event – one of 20 events to celebrate Debating Matters 20th anniversary.

 

Winning Team: Grammar School at Leeds (L to R): Amber Malkin, Anna Kaufmann, teacher Mr Westwood, Hannah de Dombal, Anika Bansal

See details here.