S2 and S3-year students Michelle Agbo and Emily Traynor formed a winning partnership to edge out teams from St Andrew’s High School, Kirkcaldy and Trinity High School, Renfrew, in a keenly contested final at Parliament House last Wednesday. 

The topic for the final was: “What equality law would you introduce and why?” 

Each team was charged with outlining in their speeches what Scottish-based equality law they would establish, who for and why - and what does it aim to achieve and how?   

Tasked with the difficult job of judging this year’s competition were Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC; Lisa Gillespie KC, deputy principal crown counsel; and Paul Harvey, assistant principal crown counsel.  

Presenting the trophy to the winners, Ms Charteris praised each school’s contribution to a hard-fought final. 

She said: “It was so refreshing and so lovely to see such young people so absolutely passionate about such important matters. It was also lovely to see how respectful of each other you were in complimenting each other and thanking each other.

“These days, things can be so fractious, especially online, so if you are able to engage with good manners and respect, we can agree to disagree.

“Congratulations to the parents and to the teachers, who have been coaching and helping and supporting.” 

This year’s competition attracted a record-breaking entry this year of 117 teams representing 72 schools from all over the country.