Students from five West Norfolk schools take part in local round of Youth Speaks Competition organised by the Rotary Club of King’s Lynn

Five teams recently took part in the local round of a public speaking competition organised by a rotary club.

Students from King Edward VII Academy, Smithdon, Springwood, Terrington St Clement and Marshland High Schools took part in the competition that was being run by the Rotary Club of Lynn.

The debates covered topics relating to the potential dangers associated with video games, criminality, AI, the banning of social media for under 16s and poor maternity pay for new mothers.

This year’s winners were the team from St Clement’s High School.

Henry Wood put forward the advantages of AI but in opposition Poppy Foster argued that there were many dangers.

The debate was ably chaired by Casey Ward.

The team goes forward to the district round of the competition in the spring and the winners there will compete in the Regional Final.

A spokesperson for the club said: “The Rotary Club is very grateful for the continuing support and expertise of the judges - Dr Bob Rogers, Mrs Theresa Banks and Mrs Diane Scoles, to Springwood High School for hosting the event and also to the school staff involved with the teams.”