NORTH Bromsgrove High School have won the Bromsgrove debating competition after a tense last round against Hagley High.

Pupils, Jacob Cottrell and Owen Wakefield claimed the crown for North Bromsgrove High on Friday, February 5 after an evening of debate at South Bromsgrove High School which had held the title for three years.

Jacob said: “I have done several debating competitions but this is by far the best event I have taken part in.

Owen added: “It’s great we were the first pair to win it for North Bromsgrove.”

Over the course of the evening schools debated whether all key sporting events should be on terrestrial television and if UK police officers should be armed.

More than 50 people watched Sajid Javid MP's Bromsgrove Schools Debating Competition which was hosted by Sajid Javid.

One of the runners-up from Hagley High, Adam Fox, said: “This is the first debating competition I have tried and it was a very close call – credit has to go to Mr O’Brien who was our mentor and helped us a lot.”

The judging panel included Mr Javid, Bromsgrove Standard editor Tristan Harris, founder of the Norton Museum Dennis Norton and former Woodrush High School politics student Kathryn Powell.

Mr Javid said: “Overall the debating tonight was of an exceptional quality and made the decision of the judges very difficult indeed. It’s great to see Bromsgrove schools taking part in this competition which has been getting better year on year.

“North thoroughly deserved their win and I’m already looking forward to next year’s competition.”