The 11th heat of the first round of The Courier/Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland Schools Junior Debating Competition was held at Dundee High School last night.

The motion was that This House Would Abolish Zoos.

Speaking in favour were Eilidh Glassey and Grace Rome of Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry; Daniel McFarlane and Joseph O’Rourke of St John’s High School, Dundee; and Hannah Macbeth and Chris O’Marra of Arbroath High School.

In opposition were Rachel Jones and Lauren Pringle of Dundee High School; Tom Fowler and Kenneth Reid of St Leonards School, St Andrews; and Rhea Webster and Catriona MacLean of Baldragon Academy, Dundee.

The proposition argued that zoos and safari parks were cruel to animals because their space was restricted and it was alien to their natural habitat.

The opposition responded by saying zoos had educational value, allowed the protection of endangered species, and were useful for research into animal behaviour.

The motion was defeated by 17 votes to 15, with two abstentions. Grove Academy, St John’s High School and Dundee High School were the teams to progress to the second round.

The speaker was David Bean of the University of St Andrews Union Debating Society, and the Serjeant-at-Arms was Victoria Westwood, also of the society.

Judges were Ashleigh Edmiston, representing the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland; Royce Hunt of the union debating society; Stuart Middleton, also of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland; and Ewan MacDonald, the tournament convener.