Four schools win through to Dewar Debate final

Pupils from four secondary schools have won places in the final of the Donald Dewar Menorial Debating Tournament, after this week's semi-finals.

Teams from Lenzie Academy, Peebles High School, Perth High School and Strathallan School saw off competitors in the penultimate round of the Law Society of Scotland's competition, the biggest school debating tournament in the country. They will compete for the top prize in the final in June, held in the Scottish Parliament's debating chamber.

Each of the 16 teams competing in the semi-final had just an hour to prepare to debate the motion "This house would introduce gender quotas for Parliament".

Lyndsey Thomson, careers and outreach coordinator at the Society, said: "The semi-finals are very tricky as the teams have such a short time to prepare after receiving the debating motion. They are not permitted access to any newspapers, computers or smartphones during that time. It really tests their skills as debaters.

“The standard of our competitors seems to get higher and higher every year and all of our semi-finalists are to be congratulated."

Law firm TC Young and publishers Hodder Gibson are event sponsors. The Society awards the first prize of £1,000 and the runners-up will receive £250 donated by the Glasgow Bar Association. The top two teams will share educational books to the value of £500 donated by Hodder Gibson.