BUDDING young legal eagles from Tavistock College are celebrating success after winning through to the finals of a national competition.
The team of sixth formers have made it into the last stages of the UK Mock Trial Competition, organised by the Bar Council of England and Wales.
The students had to prepare two cases for presentation before a bench of four judges, with the team assuming the roles of all involved ? advocates, prosecution, defence, witnesses, court ushers, bailiff and jurors.
To get to the final of the competition, the Tavistock College team beat Park School from Barnstaple, Wadebridge School and, on points, Plymouth High School. In the area final they beat Colyton Grammar School, the competition winners for the last two years.
John Simes, Tavistock College principal, said: ?These achievements show what a broad spectrum of opportunity is encouraged here. Congratulations to all concerned ? and a special thanks for the extra time devoted to helping our students prepare for the bar competitions to teachers John Stuart and Liz Rowe.?
In winning through to the final, the judges singled out college student Ella Curnow for particular praise.
The team will now compete in the national final, which takes place at the Old Bailey in March. Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf has agreed to judge the event.
The team is Sarah Riley, Ella Curnow, Martin O?Neill, Alison Donkin, Rowan Strugnell, Tim May, Bethany Torvill, Eleanor Samwells, Kate Groome, Will Whitehead, Rebecca Parkes, Victoria Parkes, Jake Hurle, Tess Fitzimmons.
And Year 10 student Peter Gentle has also been recognised for his dramatic talents ? he was selected to attend one of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth residential courses at Exeter University.
Peter said: ?It was a very worthwhile experience and I discovered a lot about new approaches to drama in a very practical way.
?I also learned a lot about myself and developed confidence as the course progressed.?