NINE Year 12 pupils at St Laurence School have won through to the national finals of the Bar Mock Trial competition.

They have booked themselves on a trip to the Edinburgh Court of Session next March.

The nine who took part were sixth formers Ben Adams, Kate Blowers, Lui Clarke, Joe Green, Billy Long, Flynn Martienssen, Bella McCallion, Keir Spring and Lily Whitehead-Young.

They competed against six other schools for a place in the national finals.

By mid-afternoon, the team had won their cases and were through to the regional final, where they defeated a team from the John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge.

St Laurence School spokesman, Katherine Allard, said: “The students had been given two cases to prepare which involved studying the laws on illegally transferring money and on acid attacks.

“They prosecuted and defended both cases and played a variety of roles, including barristers, jury, witnesses, and court staff – with the proceedings being played out in front of members of the legal profession and judged by barristers at Bristol Crown Court.”

The group now go through to the national round of the competition which takes place on March 23 at the Edinburgh Court of Session.

James Eckhord Tucker and Anjali Gohil, two barristers from Bristol Chambers, who oversaw proceedings, have offered to help prepare the pupils for the final.

The team will be given a new case that they will need to study and prepare to prosecute and defend for the final.

Teacher Trudi Chatfield said: “This was a tremendous team effort, which has given students an insight into the law, as well as developing students ability to analyse, think on their feet and present logical arguments.’’