FOUR high school pupils put their heads together to clinch an award at a debating competition.

The team from Harwich and Dovercourt High School visited Stanway School, in Colchester, to take part in the annual Sigma debate competition.

Year 8 pupil Nicola Hance and year 9 students Chloe Rixon, Hannah Milne and Daniel Hance all made made the trip to take part.

There were three rounds, with Hannah and Chloe finishing second.

Nicola and Daniel came first in the final round, beating three other teams and four other schools overall.

The students debated a different topic for each round, including the issue of the cryogenic freezing of human bodies, whether mothers should stay at home and raise their children and whether the names of suspected criminals should be withheld until they are proven guilty.

The teams were not aware of which side they would be arguing until 15 minutes before the debate started.

Jenna Harding, English teacher, said: “It was fantastic to see students working together and supporting each other in some really challenging topics.

“I’m so proud of them and their hard work.”