A trio of budding teenage lawyers stood up to be counted on Thursday - and won a public speaking contest.

Robyn Dennis, 16, Alice Kane, 15 and Maria Nozdrina, 15 represented St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School in Langley Road in the senior section of last Thursday's Youth Speaks competition run by Slough Rotary Club.

They beat rivals from Upton Court Grammar, Beechwood and Baylis Court schools with their presentation entitled Why I Would Not Change My Name for Marriage.

Giving the main address was 16-year-old Robyn Dennis. The subject is close to her heart - she remembers hearing from her grandmother how annoying life could be for women.

She said: "My grandmother told me that when she and her husband were trying to buy a house the money she earned was not even taken into account because she was a woman and not seen as an individual in her own right."

Robyn wants to be a lawyer and intends to keep her family name as she progresses through her career Her team colleagues were Alice Kane and Maria Nozdrina, both 15, who gave the vote of thanks and acted as chairwoman for their presentation.

They both intend to be lawyers too.

Alice said: "It is good to stand up for something you believe in."

The Intermediate part of the Youth Speaks competition for eight to 13-year-olds was won by Upton Court Grammar School in Lascelles Road whose team members asked the question Does the Curriculum Prepare us for Life'.

Their team consisted of Aryan Shiraz, Akanksh Shetty and Abirami Sritharan.

Both teams now go forward to the zone finals on February 27 when they will take on teams from other Rotary Club areas and hopefully win chance to get into the national final competing against schools from across the country.

Like last event was held at the John Lister Post Graduate School at Wexham Park Hospital.