A TEAM from Prince Henry’s Grammar School is celebrating reaching the final of a prestigious debating contest.

The sixth form students came second overall in this year’s Benjamin Franklin Fellowship Debate Competition.

Students from 11 schools debated motions including ‘This House would allow online voting in General Elections’ and ‘This House believes that tax avoidance is immoral’.

After winning both of their heats, the Otley pupils went on to contest the final at the US Embassy in London. US Ambassador Matthew Barzun was a judge and guest of honour.

Ben Konopinski, who runs the sixth form enrichment curriculum at Prince Henry’s, accompanied the group on their trip.

He said: “We have been running a debating society as part of the sixth form enrichment curriculum and this was their first competition, so to get to the final was amazing.”