On Thursday 30 November Sofia and Govhar in Year 10 represented Putney in the first round of the English Speaking Union’s prestigious Mace competition.

They debated the motion: ‘This House would weight votes such that the younger the voter, the more powerful their vote’ against an accomplished team from St. Mark’s Catholic School.

Both girls spoke with style and assurance and – despite labelling every member of the floor over 40  “past-it” and “not the future” –  they still made it through to the next round.