The semi-final round of the Wokingham Schools Debating Competition will be held on Thursday the 12th November, 7pm at Wokingham Town Hall, where teams from Luckley Oakfield, Bearwood College and St. Crispin’s will challenge each other on the topical, and controversial, issue of bonuses for highly paid bankers and footballers.

At the first round of the competition on Thursday the 15th October, two teams from Luckley Oakfield emerged victorious to proceed through to the semi-final. The triumphant pupils from Luckley Oakfield were Camilla Potter and Perdita Foster, who successfully argued against the motion “This House thinks that everyone who wants to go to university should be allowed to do so”, and Helena Thompson and Lucy Hammond, who argued against the motion “This House believes extremist views should not be aired on television”,.

The Luckley Oakfield contestants will be joined by the successful pupils from the second round, held on Thursday the 22nd October at Bearwood College. Charles Conway and Sam Mohsen will represent Bearwood College, and Laura Webber and Carrie Mathieson will represent St. Crispin’s.

The two winning teams from the semi-final will then face one another at the final round in Wokingham Town Hall on Friday the 27th November. The winning team will receive the John Redwood Cup for debating and an overhead projector for their school courtesy of sponsors 3M. Both the winning team and the runners-up will receive a tour of the Houses of Parliament and the chance to watch Prime Minister’s Questions, while all the participating pupils will receive certificates acknowledging their contribution to the contest.

Speaking about the first two rounds, John Redwood said: “The standard of debating was excellent in both preliminary rounds and even the teams that failed to get through to the semi-final were of a very high standard”.

“I would like to thank the teachers who have prepared and help coach their pupils, and am very much looking forward to the semi-final”.

For more information please contact Carl Thomson on 020 7219 4205