It was boys against girls in the Cornish round of this year’s English Speaking Union’s Public Speaking Competition for Schools – and the girls came out on top.

Three pupils from Truro High School, where many pupils are from Falmouth and Helston, went head to head with three boys from Truro School – each team aiming to dazzle the judges and audience with persuasive speeches, astute questions and well-controlled chairmanship.

Holly Holdsworth, speaker for Truro High School, chose the contentious topic ‘Family Life is Doomed’ for her speech whilst Truro School’s speaker Solo Major went for the equally controversial ‘Clothes are Immaterial’ for his.

According to the three judges, both speeches were well prepared and executed but Holly’s presentation style earned her first place. Dominic Latarche, from Truro School, narrowly beat Jess Inkster to the chair title and Truro High’s Alex Jeffries earned herself the questioner prize over Truro School’s Oscar Gatta. Overall, the Truro High School for Girls’ team was judged the winner and they now progress to the regional finals in Taunton.

Truro High School headmistress, Jane Abbotts said: “The girls are all Year 11 pupils who have been working hard on their entry. Having the confidence to express your views and debate an issue in public are very important attributes and ones that we encourage throughout the school. This is the first time that Truro High School has entered this particular competition and we are all very proud of the outcome.”