LOTHERSDALE Primary School is celebrating after its debating team was named runners-up in a county wide competition on the subject of the dangers of social media.

It was the first time the school had entered a debating contest, and after winning the Craven schools final in March, the school's year five and six champions went forward to the finals of the North Yorkshire Schools Debating competition.

Held in the council chamber of North Yorkshire County Council in Northallerton, the Lothersdale children competed with eight other schools - all district winners on the subject of 'is social media a danger to children'.

The competition was started six years ago by Cllr Cliff Trotter, local member for Pannal and Lower Wharfedale, during his year as county council chairman. At that time only five schools signed up for the competition; this year 67 primary schools have taken part, a testament to the competition’s growing popularity.

The debate was judged by a panel of county councillors and council officers, with the winning school Riverside Primary and Lothersdale primary close runners-up.

Cllr Trotter said: “I started the competition in an effort to try to interest more young people in politics. Its increasing popularity is a real mark of success, and the standard is incredibly high. I have been so impressed by the confidence of the children they show when speaking before a room full of people. I think it’s important that the younger generation come here and see where decisions are taken that impact on their day-to-day lives”

Fellow judge, Cllr Janet Sanderson, executive member for children and young people’s services, 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 a fitting setting, too, to acknowledge the high level of the debate and the tremendous amount of preparation the schools have put in.”

When the debates were over all the finalists took a personal vote on the motion. Overwhelmingly they agreed that social media is a danger to children.

They also chose the topic for next year’s competition, suggesting various subjects before taking a vote. The winning motion was “Should school uniform be banned.” Lily Long- Prior a member of Lothersdale's successful team said: " loved debating in the council chambers and want to be the Prime Minister now."

Headteacher, Jo Robinson, said the whole school community was very proud of the teams’ achievement.