At the semi-final of the Wokingham Schools Debating Competition on Thursday the 12th November, teams from Luckley Oakfield and St. Crispin’s outperformed their opponents to make it through to the final round on Friday the 27th November in Wokingham Town Hall.

Last week’s contest saw one team from Luckley Oakfield propose the motion, “This House would use the law to reduce the pay of British bankers”, which was opposed by Bearwood College. St. Crispin’s proposed the motion “This House would use the law to reduce the pay of British footballers”, which was opposed by a second team from Luckley Oakfield.

At the end of the contest the two teams with the highest scores were one of the teams from Luckley Oakfield, made up of Helena Thompson and Lucy Hammond, and the team from St. Crispin’s, made up of Laura Webber and Carrie Matthieson. Both teams will now go through to the final at the end of November, where they will compete for the John Redwood Cup for debating. The winning school will receive a projector from 3M for their school, and both teams will be invited to lunch at the House of Commons and a chance to watch Prime Minister’s Questions with Wokingham MP John Redwood next spring.

John Redwood chaired the proceedings at the semi-final, and said: “Once again the standard of debating was really high. I was particularly impressed by the debate on footballers’ pay. Both the teams had really done their research and put forward some impressive arguments. The judges told me it was very close and difficult to pick two winners”.

The motion to be debated in the final round will be “This House believes that anyone who wants to come and live in the UK should be allowed to do so”. St. Crispin’s will propose the motion and Luckley Oakfield will oppose it.

There will also be a short prize giving ceremony after the final debate where all the pupils that took part in the contest will receive certificates commemorating their participation in the tournament.

The evening will start at 7pm in Wokingham Town Hall on Friday the 27th November. Attendance is open to all, and we would strongly encourage you to come along and support the local schools.

For more information please contact Carl Thomson on 020 7219 4205