THIRSK School and Sixth Form College’s first ever debating team are taking their skills all the way to the national finals of a prestigious competition.

The regional final of the English-Speaking Union’s ‘Schools’ Mace’ competition was held recently at Thirsk School with the home team triumphing over strong competition from the Grammar School at Leeds, the Royal Grammar School Newcastle and the Priory City of Lincoln Academy.

Despite this being their first experience of formal debating, the team, comprising of Louis Benoit and Aidan Tulloch, both 17, overcame tough opposition in the early stages of the competition.

Their opponents included previous debating winners Harrogate Grammar School and Ripon Grammar School.

The Thirsk team’s success means they now progress to the national finals in London on March 22.

George Hollis, assistant head, said: “This prestigious annual competition is generally dominated by selective schools with a lengthy debating heritage.

“This is the first year Thirsk School and Sixth Form College have entered, but we can now already be regarded as being amongst the top six debating schools in the country.”

Headteacher Stuart Mason, added: “We are very proud of the achievements of Louis and Aidan.

“The intellectual excellence of their arguments and the rigour with which they presented their case shows that they are destined for futures at the most prestigious universities. Their place in the top six debating schools in the country reflects well on the academic strength of our Sixth Form.”