RGS girls win their House of Lords debate

RIPON Grammar School's talented debating team has won through to the regional final of a national schools debating competition.

Nancy Manners, Elizabeth Lamb and Anson Fong, with support from Beatrice Webster, triumphed in their second round heat at Yarm School, where they were up against stiff competition from Malton School, Wensleydale School, King Edward VI School, Morpeth and Dame Allan's School, Newcastle, in addition to Yarm.

Judges said they were 'blown away' by the RGS team's well-researched and well-delivered speeches as they proposed the motion 'This house would abolish the House of Lords'.

The Years 10 and 11 students will now compete in the North-East regional final of the English Speaking Union Schools Mace competition on March 12.

RGS psychology teacher Miranda Dodd, who supervises the debating club, said: "The students are entirely self-taught via their student-led Debate Club, which takes place on Friday lunchtimes."

She added that RGS would be holding a House Debating Competition to give more students the opportunity to try out this valuable and enjoyable skill.