There is clearly a capacity for use of the spoken word at Loreto as the success of the legal beagles has been matched by a spectacular coup for the debating team, which has been crowned North West and North Wales Debating Matters champions. Grappling with issues including the provision of water in the UK, fake news and cigarette packaging, the team fielded challenging questions from opponents and judges before being declared convincing winners of the regional heat held at MMU in Manchester. Several members of the Loreto team attracted the attention of the judges and won ‘honourable mentions’ as individual speakers. The team will now go on to compete in the final, which will be held in July at the Museum of London. Judges at previous events have included Claire Fox, often to be heard on the Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4, and broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli, so the Loreto students will be expecting a rigorous examination of their credentials as they fly the flag for Manchester.