HUNDREDS of pupils from primary schools across North Yorkshire went head-to-head in the debate chamber.

The county-wide debating contest, which was started by North Yorkshire County Council’s then chairman, Cllr Cliff Trotter, is in its fifth year. Almost 50 teams competed in the heats, which were held in each district of the county. The finalists met in the council chamber at County Hall in Northallerton.

This year’s finalists were Richmond Methodist School, Bedale CE Primary School, Rossett Acre Primary School, Hampsthwaite Primary School, Amotherby Primary School, Embsay Primary School, Northstead Community Primary School, Scarborough, and Riverside Primary School, Tadcaster.

The topic of debate was “Is homework a waste of time?” and the debate was judged by a panel of county councillors and council officers. The winning school was Bedale Church of England Primary. The runner-up was Riverside Primary School.

Cllr Trotter, who was unable to attend this year’s final because of an injury, said: “I started this competition in an effort to try to interest more young people in politics. Its increasing popularity shows that we are doing that, and the standard is improving each year. I have been so impressed by the professionalism of the children and the confidence they show when speaking before a room full of people.”

Cllr Janet Sanderson, Executive Member for Children’s Services and a member of the judging panel, added: “It’s wonderful to be able to give children the opportunity to perform in a setting like the council chamber, which carries so much tradition. It’s fitting to acknowledge the high level of debate.”