A school in Radley has won the oldest and largest debating competition for schools in England.

Radley College has triumphed in the English-Speaking Union’s Schools’ Mace Debating Competition 2024.

Student debaters Blake, Mustafa, and Brayden overcame 11 other teams in the semi-finals on April 18 at Dartmouth House, London.

The competition featured more than 110 heats and saw more than 1,500 young people take part.

The team said the standard of the competition was "unbelievable" and encouraged other school pupils to "give it a shot".

Tim Schmalz, teacher and head of debating at Radley College, was "ecstatic" after the win and said: "I’m just extremely proud of all of the hard work they’ve put into this."

The final was judged by debating and oracy experts, such as Chris Byrne, who took part in the competition when he was at school, and recent competition winner Anna De Vilder.

Ms De Vilder said: "It's much easier to manoeuvre this world when you have a greater understanding of yourself, your confidence, and how to get your ideas across.

"You're brought in with this respect and on complete equal footing. The only thing that differentiates you is your ability to get something across."

Initiated in 1957 as The Observer Schools’ Mace, past winners include Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy and broadcaster and author Edward Stourton.