TWO year 10 students from Earls have triumphed in a debating competition held at Old Swinford Hospital School.

Sarah Jacobs and Aaliyah Bennett fought off tough competition from Redhill School to win a debate motion on the topic of animal testing.

In a previous round they had won a motion on the death penalty against a team from Old Swinford Hospital School.

Warren Meacher, head of RE and debating at Earls described the events as ‘fantastic’ and was pleased not only with his students’ success but also the very high quality of speaking and debating displayed by all the students present.

He said: “Debating is a useful and important skill that helps to develop student confidence as well as their oral and listening skills.

“They have to think on their feet, compose counter-arguments and show a high degree of cognitive and evaluative reasoning skills.

“All the students involved were a credit to themselves and their schools.”