Dundee High School pupil April Shepherd picked for Scotland team at World Schools Debating Championships

A Dundee High School pupil has been picked for the Scottish team to contest the World Schools Debating Championships 2012.

April Shepherd will travel to Cape Town, South Africa, in January with her four team-mates in the hope of securing Scotland’s fourth victory in the competition since 1990.

The school has a proud tradition of debating success. Nine out of the past 13 Scottish teams have included at least one of its pupils and it has supplied members of two of the three championship-winning squads.

April said: ”I’m proud to have been selected as part of the team. Scotland always performs very strongly in the world championships, so we will have a lot to live up to in 2012.”

The 2011 championships took place in Dundee and were attended by teams from 48 nations. Scotland made it to the semi-finals before being defeated by Australia.

The event was convened by Irene McGrath, head of academic administration at Dundee High.

She said: ”I am delighted that April has earned her place in the 2012 team and am sure she will be an excellent ambassador both for the school and for Scotland.”