An articulate team at Monmouth School for Boys has won the intermediate section in a hotly-fought debating competition.

Year 7 pupils Alex, Freddie and Kopano triumphed in Monmouth Rotary Club’s annual Youth Speaks competition at The Hitchcock Pavilion.

Alex grabbed the judges’ attention with a mature and sophisticated argument on why we need to look to colonising space.

Alex and his teammates overcame strong competition from Monmouth School for Girls and Monmouth Comprehensive School and challenging questions from the floor to win their class.

The boys will now progress to the regional competition next month.

The senior team involving Year 12 students Nicholas, Josh and Angus also impressed in their section.

Chaired by Josh, Nicholas presented an impassioned speech proposing that university tuition fees should be abolished and this was ably opposed by Angus.

Congratulations to the Monmouth Comprehensive School team which won the senior prize.

“There were fantastic performances from the pupils at Monmouth School for Boys and we wish our Year 7 team every success as they prepare for the regional round,” said Mrs Emma Arrand, Head of English, who coaches the boys’ teams.