Putney Portias – Mock Trial Competition

On Saturday 2 February a team made up of 14 girls from Years 10 and 11 took part in the Independent Schools Mock Trial competition.

The students had spent the last few months working hard preparing prosecution and defence cases for two criminal trials, each of them taking on the role of a barrister, witness, clerk or juror.

These cases were then tried against rival school teams at the Inner London Crown Courts in front of a real bewigged judge. The students did superbly, winning (both in the eyes of the jury and the competition judges) each of their three cases. In fact a judge said of one of their trials that it was best she had seen in a high standard year. The students missed out on the top spot play-off by a whisker and ended up coming third.

Brexit and Bus Passes at the London Junior Debating League

On Monday 4 February Putney hosted the second London Junior Debating League fixture on Monday night. Six students from Years 7 and 8 debated two motions – one on a second referendum and one on taking away free bus passes for the over 60s. The girls did well, winning their debate against Twyford and – after a heated adjudication – drawing with St Pauls Juniors.