School debaters win through to Dewar tournament final

30th March 2015 | education-training , law society of scotland

Four school debating teams have won through to the final of the Donald Dewar Memorial Tournament, sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland.

The teams, who have come through three rounds including this month's semi-finals, are:

Rachel Miller and Rhianna McGrath from Lanark Grammar (Lanark);
Jamie MacLeod and Ewan Redpath from Madras College (St Andrews);
Anna Michels and Richard Montgomery from St Mary’s Music School (Edinburgh); and
David Cameron and David Laird from Prestwick Academy (Prestwick).

Ninety seven schools began this year's competition. To get to this stage the students have already had to tackle topics such as leaving the EU, abolishing immigration controls and banning opinion polling in the month before a vote. In the semi-finals the students were only presented with the motion an hour before the debate took place.

Heather McKendrick, careers and outreach manager at the Society, said: "The teams that have made it through to the final really had to think on their feet to get this far and they should be very proud of what they have achieved. Getting to the final of this year’s Donald Dewar Debating Tournament is no small feat, especially for Prestwick Academy pupils, David Cameron and David Laird, who are taking part for the first time. I’m looking forward to hearing what the teams have to say when they take to the floor in the grand setting of the Parliament’s debating chamber.”

The final will take place at Holyrood on 4 June. The winning team will be presented with the tournament trophy and £1,000 for their school from the Society, and the runners-up will receive £250 from the Glasgow Bar Association. Tournament sponsors Hodder Gibson will present the winners and runners-up with educational books to the value of £500.