Edinburgh school wins Society debating final

Top prize for Craigmount High School in Donald Dewar Memorial Competition

News, 18 June 2007

Two Edinburgh school pupils were awarded the top prize for their oratory skills at the national final of the Law Society of Scotland’s Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament.

John Craig and Alistair Hayes, from Craigmount High School, were presented with £1,000 for their school, and the tournament trophy by Richard Henderson, Vice President of the Law Society of Scotland, after debating the motion "This House Regrets the Act of Union 1707".

The final was held in the Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, home of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly and also of the Scottish Parliament prior to completion of the new parliament building, and was chaired by the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Very Rev Sheilagh Kesting.

The winners will also have the chance to work with a professional film maker to create a film on a topic relating to the Union or democracy, awarded by the "A Union for a’ that" project.

Runners up Neil Dewar and Lauren Pringle, from the High School of Dundee, received £250 for their school, and each of the finalists, who also included two teams from the High School of Glasgow, was given a commemorative quaich.

The judges, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Jon Dye, chairman of the English Speaking Union and Kirsty Russell, twice judge at the World Universities Debating Championships, agreed that all four teams had given very strong and convincing performances but commended Craigmount, the winning team for their powers of persuasion.

Richard Henderson said: "Each of the teams gave excellent performances which were both animated and articulate and I’m delighted to congratulate not only the winners, John and Alistair but all of the finalists on their skilful and intelligent arguments."

The event also hosted the launch of the second edition of the award-winning "Young Citizen's Passport - Your Guide to the Law", which has been sent to every secondary school in Scotland.