A TEAM of teenagers came third in the national finals of toughest debating competition in the country.

A four-strong team of Sixth Formers from The Hermitage Academy in Chester-le-Street took part in the Debating Matters National Final held at the British Library at the weekend.

They beat schools from across the country to reach the semi-final of the prestigious competition, but lost out on the final by the narrowest of margins and finished third overall out of almost 300 schools to have entered the contest.

Having already won the regional finals held at Teesside University, the team went to London on Friday for the national finals held over an intense three-day residential weekend.

On Saturday, Sarah Taylor and Tom Goulding won the opening debate against Queen’s School, Hertfordshire, arguing that space exploration is not a waste of time and money.

Colleagues Michaela Crawley and Ryan Bell then took on The Godolphin School from Salisbury, putting the case for three-parent IVF.

Both were then quizzed on their arguments by a panel of expert judges and members of the audience.

The victories put Hermitage into the semi-final on Sunday, when Sarah Taylor and Michaela Crawley took on Douglas Academy of Glasgow in a debate on whether Western museums should repatriate cultural artefacts.

Broadcaster Nick Ross, one of the judging panel, said the debate was so close they could have just tossed a coin to settle it, but the decision went against Hermitage who finished an overall third in the competition.

Teacher and debate coach Caroline West said: “Debating Matters has brought our students together.

“They were all part of separate groups in school, Debating has made them all friends”

Student Thomas Goulding was awarded an individual commendation for the quality of his speaking during the contest.