Larbert High has won the Scottish round of the Citizenship Foundation’s legal challenge competition, held at Glasgow High Court earlier this month.

The Falkirk school, which triumphed over Lenzie Academy in East Dunbartonshire in the Scottish final, goes on to the UK finals at the Old Bailey in London (right) in March.

The competition involved S5-6 pupils preparing the prosecution and defence for two cases, with the students playing the parts of advocates, witnesses, court clerk and jurors.

One of the cases was a road traffic accident in which a driver had run over a cyclist; the other a breach of the peace, in which an environmentalist had broken through a police cordon in order to prevent trees being chopped down to make way for a by-pass.

Susan Orr, depute head of Larbert High, said: “As well as giving the students an insight into the Scottish legal system, this competition means they have to work as a team, problem-solve, think on their feet, and speak in public. It is also great for developing self-confidence and everybody is over the moon that we are the Scottish champions.”