THE TEAM to represent Scotland at the World Schools Debating Championships was chosen on Saturday.

Sandy Jackson (Morrison’s Academy, Crieff), Lauren Pringle (Dundee High School), Joanna Farmer (Robert Gordon’s, Aberdeen) and Natalie Smith and Rachel Watson (both Aberdeen Grammar School) will be heading to Washington DC in September to defend the title won by Scotland last year in South Korea.

The pupils, all of whom began by speaking in The Courier’s Junior Schools Debating Competition, had to argue their way through a development squad.

Twelve triallists met in Edinburgh to participate in two debates.

The selectors—Pat Slaven, Rob Marrs, George Molyneaux, Will Jones, and Kirsty Russell, of The Courier, announced the team to a joyous reaction from successful speakers, coaches and unsuccessful triallists alike.

The Scottish team will now begin researching a wide range of issues—national and international, moral and philosophical—and will receive intensive coaching to prepare for the event.

They will be able to test their skills against the English, Irish and Welsh teams at a tournament in Dundee next month.