Girls debate power

THREE teenage girls from Sandwick junior high school are preparing to fly the school flag at Holyrood on Friday in a debate on renewable energy.

Third year students Megan Leslie, Lucy Simpson and Lucy Morris are hoping to match the success of their predecessors five years ago who won the final of the Big Green Challenge and earned a free trip to Iceland.

Friday’s debate will see them pitted against teams from seven other schools in the highlands and islands in the competition run by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, who use it to raise awareness about low carbon energy.

The event is sponsored by energy giants Mitsubishi and Scottish and Southern Energy and will be hosted by STV weatherman Sean Batty.

The day will start with Sandwick facing Charleston Academy to debate reneable energy subsidies. This will be followed by a semi final and a grand final all on the same day.

Sandwick head Stuart Clubb said: “The school has had some success with the Big Green Challenge and the Donald Dewar Debating Competition and it is something that we like to encourage.”

HIE senior energy development manager Anna Allan said it was important young people became well informed about energy issues, which are crucial to the region’s economic future.

She added: “From the quality of the debates in earlier stages of the competition, I expect this to be an excellent event.”

More information about the event can be found here.