THE topics of science, bribery, social deprivation, torture and more were debated by students in a speaking competition at Brimsham Green School.

Following coaching by members of Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club, 12 and 13-year-old pupils from Chipping Sodbury and Brimsham Green schools took part in Rotary’s annual Youth Speaks event.

Held at Brimsham Green School on February 27, the competition took the form of a series of debates, with the students arguing their support or rejection of several weighty topics. 

“These were difficult subjects to tackle,” said chairman of Rotary’s Youth Projects Committee Keith Pattison. 

“The students undertook a considerable amount of research to enable them to argue their case. 

“Some even discovered facts that surprised us all.”

After much deliberation, the judges decided that the best debating team was Adi Schinde and Ben Bevan, who argued successfully that science was a threat to humanity. 

The best individual case against the same topic was put by Cameron Stillie.

And Jack Baker won over the judges with an often humorous defence of the opinion that bribery was sometimes acceptable.

Kim Garland and Katherine Turner, headteachers of Brimsham and Chipping Sodbury schools, both agreed that this was a valuable extra-curricular event for the students. 

“These students have learned a skill that benefits their education and will stay with them for the rest or their lives,” said Mr Pattison.