Highams Park win the day

The final of the House of Commons debating competition championed by local MP Mr. Ian Duncan-Smith took place on Friday 5th February 2010 at the Houses of Parliament. The final two schools in the competition were Highams Park and Forest school. Highams Park emerged the winners and collected the trophy from local MP Mr. Ian Duncan-Smith.

Mr Cohen, one of the teachers involved in organising the team from Highams Park, said "The team were superb and used all of their skills to overcome the formidable opposing team from Forest. We are all very proud of them." The team are pictured holding the trophy they had just received.

Highams Park beat Bancroft's and Woodford County High school for Girls in earlier rounds to reach the final (see below).

The inscribed glass trophy they won is shown here.

The Highams Parks 6th form debating team beat their counterparts from Woodford County High School to reach the final of the House of Commons debating competition currently championed by local MP Mr. Ian Duncan-Smith. This result builds on the victory achieved last week over the Independent fee paying school, Bancrofts in the first round. 

The debate with Woodford County High School was a much more convincing victory with our team successfully arguing with style and clarity against the motion that the NHS should not treat people with self inflicted diseases. Highams Park student Beth James, who has ambitions herself to study Medicine after her A-levels, was given the honour of best speaker on the night. The rest of the team were Owen Donovan, Isobel Juby and Iona Primavera. The Highams Park team now go on to the final which takes place in the Houses of Parliament on Friday 11th December.