Debating success for Nairn Academy pupils

Two  senior pupils from Nairn Academy, Amy McCann and Ruby Downie, have won a place in the finals of the Law Society of Scotland's Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament which takes place in the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament on 14th June, later this year. Amy and Ruby won through at a semi-final debate held at Meldrum Academy on Tuesday evening, 20 March, for their convincing proposition of the motion 'This House Would ban all forms of gambling'. They will take their place in the final alongside pupils from Stewart's Melville College, Craigmount High School and St Andrew's and St Bride's in East Kilbride.

The girls continue to build on their success earlier this year when they won the North of Scotland Schools Debating Championship. Amy commented: “The semi-finals were quite different to any of our previous debates as we only received the motion 1 hour before the start and had to quickly collect our thoughts and write out our speeches within that short time without access to any outside materials or support.” Ruby added: “It was a great experience, we really had to think on our feet! We can’t wait to go to the Parliament for the final and ‘fly the flag’ for the school.”

Team Coach John Chalmers noted: “This is a first for a Highland School and we’re all very proud of the girls’ achievement – their team-work was superb. To reach the national final and be amongst the top four debating teams in Scotland is fantastic for the school, the community and the pupils… It shows the kind of potential our students have.”

The annual competition, which is now the biggest schools' debating tournament in Scotland each year invites pupils from schools across Scotland to pit their wits and powers of persuasion against each other.