TWO talented Earls High School pupils are celebrating after triumphing at a debating competition.

Year 10 pupils Sarah Jacobs and Aaliyah Bennett fought off tough competition from Redhill School to win a debating competition at Old Swinford Hospital School.

The pair's understanding and debating on a motion concerning the pros and cons of animal testing helped them secure victory.

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 religious education and debating at Earls High School, was proud of his pupils.

He said: "The level of competition was excellent and all students involved spoke brilliantly on a range of topics that included the morality of beauty pageants, negotiating with terrorists, animal rights, capital punishment and university tuition fees."

He added: "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."

"I would also like to express my thanks to Will Deeley at Old Swinford Hospital School for his organisation and hospitality of this excellent event and looks forward to resuming the debates next year."