Local students the last word in debating

Hunterhouse College Senior Debaters Hannah Chambers, Caitlin Grimley, Lauren Farrell and Lois McCulla with debate chairman Joel Cohen.

Hunterhouse was one of eight schools competing at Belfast’s Queen’s University for the prize of representing Northern Ireland in Scotland in the next round of the national competition.

Vcitory means all four Year-13 Hunterhouse students - Lois McCulla, Lauren Farrell, Hannah Chambers and Caitlin Grimley - get an all-expenses-paid trip to Edinburgh to compete against the Scottish finalists in the spring.

The motions for debate during the qualifiers focused on the closure of public libraries, sportspeople as role models and whether the United Kingdom should finally exit the European Union.

“After some excellent debates, Hunterhouse College overcame Cross and Passion School, Ballycastle and The Royal School, Armagh to win the final,” a school spokesperson said.