SIXTEEN pupils from eight York secondary schools will be going head-to-head at the Guildhall to earn the title of the York's best young public speaker.

Working in pairs, they'll be given eight minutes each to talk on topics ranging from how to solve York's traffic problems to which are York's worst new buildings - or whether we should have to pay for entry to the city's museums.

The competition, organised each year by York Civic Trust, will be held in the council chamber in the Guildhall on December 9.

"It's the home of democracy in York and a wonderful venue for these young people to experience," said Verna Campbell, chair of the Civic Trust's education committee which organises the event. "The quality of the debate in previous years has been extraordinary."

The winner will be presented with a special award by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Sonja Crisp. And a video recording of the debates will go up on the Civic Trust website.

So far eight York secondary schools have entered pupils for the competition: Manor, St Olave's, Huntington, Joseph Rowntree, Fulford, Millthorpe, The Mount and Bootham schools.

"But there are still a couple of schools that haven't entered," Mrs Campbell said. "It's not too late to do so if they want to!"

To find out more about the competition, visit yorkcivictrust.co.uk. Schools wanting to make a late entry can email info@yorkcivictrust.co.uk

  • The topics pupils will be debating at the Guildhall on December 9 are:

- Our museums belong to everybody – how should they be paid for?

- Which three new buildings in York should be kept, and which three should be demolished?

- I can solve York’s traffic problems by………..

- Did the railway barons make York what it is today?

- York's blue plaques: a great resource, or a waste of time and money?