Sweet-sounding students speak up
Lichfield students are the talk of Staffordshire after taking the honours in a public speaking competition.
The King Edward VI School pupils won the team prize in the 15th annual Michael Fabricant-Arthur Price of England Public Speaking Awards.
Seventeen-year-old Holly Youlden made it a double for the school when she won the best individual speech award.
The other two members of the winning team were Robbie Beck, aged 16 and Jessica Lobo, 17.
All three won silver cups and certificates and have been invited to the House of Commons to meet Lichfield MP Mr Fabricant again and see Prime Minister's Question Time.
The motion debated at Lichfield's Guildhall was "That this House believes that celebrity culture and reality TV unduly influence the aspirations of young people."
Three other teams took part from Chase Terrace Technology College, Chasetown Specialist Sports College, and The Friary School.
The judging panel were made up of the Sheriff of Lichfield Councillor Norma Bacon, president of the Rotary Club of Lichfield St Chad Martin Anker, managing director of Arthur Price of England Simon Price, deputy mayor Councillor Terry Thomas and town clerk Peter Young.
The Mayor of Lichfield Councillor Mark Warfield, who welcomed the teams, could not be a judge as he is a teacher at Chasetown College. Michael Fabricant acted as master of ceremonies.
Mr Fabricant said: "All the schools taking part were excellent, but we definitely had a 'David Cameron' moment when Robbie Beck of King Edward's stepped away from the podium to address the audience from the stage. The team argued well that young people are not naïve."
