Does This Sound Like Your Child?
Many capable students have brilliant ideas—but struggle to express them. They may...
Hesitate to speak up in class, even when they know the answer
Lose confidence when presenting or answering unexpected questions
Rely on memorisation instead of thinking independently
Find it difficult to organise their thoughts into clear, convincing responses
How Debate Can Help
Debate isn't about arguing.
It's about learning how to
think critically, communicate confidently and respond effectively under pressure.
Designed for primary school students, this structured debate programme builds confident communicators through engaging, coach-led sessions.
Why We Partnered with RedDot Academy
10,000+ Students From Singapore's Top Schools
RedDot Academy has coached students from leading local and international schools, including ACS (Junior), Singapore American School, St. Nicholas Girls' School, and many more.
Highly Experienced National Debate Coaches
Develop critical thinking, persuasive communication, and logical reasoning through a structured curriculum led by experienced competitive debaters.
Authentic Competition Opportunities
RedDot Academy organises prestigious regional debate tournaments (e.g. the RedDot Open) providing students with meaningful opportunities to put their learning into practice.
RedDot's Proven Approach to Debate
Proprietary Structured Thinking Frameworks
Rather than memorising scripts or arguments, students learn a structured approach to analysing unfamiliar topics, organising ideas, and building persuasive arguments.
Interactive Coaching & Practical Application
Every lesson combines guided coaching, regular speaking practice, and personalised feedback to build confidence and strong communication skills.
Critical Thinking for School & Beyond
Students develop logical reasoning and critical thinking skills that strengthen classroom participation, presentations, interviews, and leadership opportunities.
Classes Available
11 weeks (7 Oct - 19 Dec 2026)
$81.75 / 1.5h lesson
P1-3 Junior Debate Explorers
TWC Woodleigh, WED 5.15PM - 6.45PM
Perfect for beginners, this programme introduces students to the fundamentals of debate in a supportive environment. They learn how to listen actively, organise their thoughts, and express their opinions with confidence through topics suited to younger learners.
P4-6 Debate Excellence Programme
TWC Woodleigh, SAT 4.15PM - 5.45PM
Building on these foundations, students explore more nuanced issues and learn to defend their viewpoints with evidence and logic. Through structured debates, they develop persuasive communication, critical thinking, and quick thinking under pressure.
Skills Students Will Develop
Communicating with Confidence
Speak clearly, present ideas effectively, and express opinions with confidence in front of an audience.
Logical & Persuasive Argumentation
Organise ideas into clear, persuasive arguments backed by evidence and sound reasoning.
Critical Thinking & Reasoning
Analyse issues from multiple perspectives and develop well-reasoned, independent viewpoints.
Active Listening & Rebuttal
Listen attentively, respond thoughtfully to opposing viewpoints, and engage respectfully in meaningful discussions.
The Debate Journey
The 8-week programme is designed progressively with four key developmental phases, with each phase building upon the previous one:
Phase 1: Building Strong Foundations (approx. Weeks 1-2)
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Building confidence in speaking
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Understanding the fundamentals of debate
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Structuring ideas and arguments
Phase 2: Thinking Like a Debater (approx. Weeks 3-4)
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Developing critical thinking skills
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Analysing issues from multiple perspectives
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Understanding stakeholders and impacts
Phase 3: Debating with Purpose (approx. Weeks 5-6)
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Rebuttals and responding to opposing ideas
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Team strategy and persuasive communication
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Learning how to defend and challenge arguments effectively
Phase 4: Refine & Strengthen (approx. Weeks 7-8)
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Strengthening argumentation, rebuttals, and persuasive delivery
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Receiving personalised coaching to refine debate techniques
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Developing confidence through guided practice and targeted feedback
Phase 5: Apply & Perform (approx. Weeks 9-11)
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Participating in full mock debates under tournament-style conditions
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Applying argumentation, rebuttal, teamwork, and delivery skills in real time
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Receiving personalised feedback and building readiness for a first debate tournament
Meet Your Coaches
Coach Lee Youqing
Debate Coach & Public Speaking Educator
Lee Youqing is an experienced primary school debate educator. He currently coaches debate teams at ACS (Junior), Temasek Primary School, Northland Primary School, and Bedok Green Primary School, equipping students with the skills to excel in competitive debating and public speaking.
Beyond the classroom, Youqing is the organiser of the annual RedDot Debate Competition, one of Singapore's leading platforms for young debaters. Since 2021, RedDot tournaments have welcomed 500+ student participants from over 40 schools across Singapore and the region, providing students with authentic opportunities to compete, receive expert feedback, and develop real-world communication skills.
Through his work with schools, competitions, and curriculum development, Youqing is committed to raising the standard of debate education and helping students become confident, articulate, and critical thinkers.
Coach Metys
Senior Debate Coach & Competitive Debater
Metys is an experienced debate coach, adjudicator, and competitive debater with over seven years of coaching experience. She has guided students to championship victories over higher-division schools and led teams to historic breakthroughs in the elimination rounds of major debate tournaments.
Most recently, she coached one of her schools to a 5th-place finish in Division 1 at the 2025 Singapore Secondary School Debating Championships—the highest placement in the school's history.
Drawing on experience as both a competitor and judge, Metys equips students with the skills to think critically, construct persuasive arguments, and communicate with precision under pressure. Her coaching emphasises intellectual independence, careful reasoning, and disciplined advocacy, helping students grow into confident and capable debaters.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Programme
1. Is this programme suitable for beginners?
Yes! This programme is designed for beginners, and no prior debate experience is required. It's perfect for children who are naturally quiet, aspiring leaders, or simply curious minds who love asking questions.
2. What types of topics will students debate?
Students explore a wide range of age-appropriate topics, including current affairs, ethical dilemmas, technology, environmental issues, education, and more. Each lesson is designed to broaden perspectives, strengthen critical thinking, and help students construct well-reasoned arguments.
3. What is the difference between debate and public speaking?
Public speaking focuses on delivering a prepared speech, while debate teaches students to think on their feet. Students learn to analyse issues, respond to opposing viewpoints, and defend their ideas with logic and evidence—all while communicating clearly and confidently. In short, public speaking teaches students how to present; debate teaches them what to say, why it matters, and how to respond when challenged.
4. How can debate benefit my child beyond competitions?
Debate develops far more than speaking skills. Students learn to think critically, organise ideas logically, communicate confidently, and respond thoughtfully under pressure. These transferable skills support classroom discussions, oral presentations, interviews, leadership opportunities, and everyday communication.
Skills developed in our debate programme extend well beyond competitions. Students learn to analyse information, organise their thoughts, justify their opinions, and communicate with clarity—skills that support English, Humanities, oral communication, presentations, and classroom discussions. More importantly, they develop the confidence to think independently and express their ideas effectively.
Debate Competitions
5. Will my child have opportunities to participate in debate competitions?
Yes. Students who demonstrate sufficient readiness and interest may be recommended for suitable competitions. RedDot Academy also provides guidance on competition registration, including tournaments organised by RedDot and selected external competitions where appropriate.
6. Is competition participation guaranteed?
No. Competition participation is not automatically guaranteed. Recommendations are based on several factors, including the student's readiness, commitment, and the availability of suitable competitions. Our priority is ensuring students have the skills and confidence to benefit from the experience.
7. Can my child still participate in RedDot competitions after completing the programme?
Yes. Students who have completed the 11-week programme remain eligible to participate in RedDot Academy competitions, even if they are no longer enrolled in regular classes. Students who wish to continue developing their debate skills may also progress to RedDot Academy's Intermediate Programme for more advanced training.
Beyond the Programme
8. Can this programme help with DSA?
While no programme can guarantee DSA outcomes, the communication, critical thinking, and reasoning skills developed through debate are highly transferable. These skills can be valuable during DSA interviews, group discussions, and other selection activities where students are expected to think clearly and communicate confidently.
9. What happens after the 11-week programme?
By the end of the programme, students will have developed a strong foundation in debate, including argument construction, rebuttals, teamwork, and speech delivery. Students who develop a passion for debate may continue with RedDot Academy's Intermediate Programme, where they build advanced analytical, strategic, and competitive debating skills.