Charity which sent Dagenham boys to Eton plans to expand

 
debate mate
Emer Martin29 November 2012

The founder of a charity which helped two boys from Dagenham win scholarships to Eton by teaching them to debate said today it will reach out to a million children in the next ten years.

Nancy Dell’Olio, comedian David Baddiel, and chair of the English National Opera Sir Peter Bazalgette, are among those who have expressed their support of the charity, Debate Mate, which was set up five years ago.

Founder and CEO Margaret McCabe said today the “phenomenal success” of the charity, which has seen the number of pupils involved increase from 350 to 3,500 since it began, was down to the “simplicity of teaching 21st century skills”.

She said: “We go into schools and teach debating skills. After 16 weeks the pupils take part in a day of debates for which they have 15 minutes to prepare. They are ready for competition and they are confident after that.

“We have been highly successful over the past five years, we can keep growing and my aim is to have a million children involved in ten years.”

Reece Weaver, 16, and Kelvin Anim, 17, joined the Debate Mate scheme at Robert Clack School of Science in Dagenham three years ago.

They said today it was thanks to the charity’s support that they won scholarships to Eton, which counts David Cameron and Boris Johnson amongst its alumni. 

Kelvin, who arrived in London from Ghana, when he was seven, now wants to read history and politics and Oxford.

He said: “One of the things Debate Mate is very good at is they expose you to competition, so we were used to debating against people from Westminster and St Paul’s even though we were comprehensive boys.

“When we got to Eton, we didn’t feel like the kids there were that different, or that we couldn’t take them on. It’s just a different place. Do I want to be prime minister? If I did I wouldn’t say it would I?”

Reece Weaver, 16, wants to study medicine at Oxford, added: “We are still friends with our mates at home. The boys at Eton are really clever, and up for a laugh, it’s good fun.”

Last night the charity celebrated its fifth anniversary by hosting a debate which saw Dell’Olio and Baddiel battle over the question: “This house would rather be rich than good-looking”, along with author Cathy Lette and actor Alex MacQueen.

Baddiel, famous for his chart topper football anthem, “Three Lions”, as well as his comedy partnership with Frank Skinner, said: “Teaching kids who aren’t posh to debate is a brilliant form of English revolution, but without violence. One of the problems is that these skills don’t get taught to a lot of kids, it’s something for the upper classes. More people need to do it”.

Dell’Olio, 50, speaking last night at the Middle Temple Hall, added: “I trained as a lawyer and the training was vital. My education opened doors for me. It helped me understand what life was about. Sometimes you need to realise that we are all citizens in the same place and what you do can make a difference. A few words and actions, like those you learn in a debate can make everything wonderful. I hope these children learn to believe in their dreams.”

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s ex-lover also auctioned a date with herself , which went for £4,000, during the evening.

Sir Peter, the incoming chairman of the Arts Council of England, said: “If my children want to pursue careers, I am lucky enough to be in a position to help them with contacts or what to do. But what about the children who don’t have that? We need to give people with real talent and ability the chance to learn the process of speaking publicly and to get the tools to get to university and reach the network and make the contacts they need to succeed.”

The charity will be working with 180 schools in 2012-13 located in London as well as Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham.

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