Buckinghamshire students followed in the footsteps of Wycombe MP Steve Baker last week by winning a “hard-fought” school debate.

In the run-up to the General Election this year, Mr Baker – who won with 51.4 per cent of the vote – joined a debate amongst four other parliamentary candidates at John Hampden Grammar School.

And, in a bid to emulate his success, four teams of students from Buckinghamshire schools took to the stage at the Marlow Hill-based school ahead of the regional finals for the Institute of Ideas Debating Matters Competition.

After a series of debates covering topics like sex selective abortion and repatriation of cultural artefacts, the teenagers from JHGS were crowned victorious.

After two elimination rounds, the group from John Hampden Grammar School eventually triumphed over Wycombe High School in the final debate on the television licence fee and impressed the judges with their quick-witted and astute arguments.

Regarded as the toughest debating competition in the UK, debaters had to prove they could answer the tough questions to claim the top prize, organisers said.

Institute of Ideas partnerships manager, Adam Rawcliffe, said: “All the teams which did not win were disappointed by the result but enjoyed making contributions to the debates from the floor as well as speaking on the panels.

“Amongst other topics, the teenagers debated contemporary political, scientific and cultural controversies in a full evening of debate.”

For more information visit www.debatingmatters.com/events/qr/buckinghamshire_2015_16