Fifteen talented Loreto students did the College proud on Saturday by winning the prestigious Bar National Mock Trial Regional Heat in Sheffield. It was third tie lucky for Team Loreto after achieving runners-up status on the previous two occasions. The Bar Mock Trial competition combines theatre, public speaking, advocacy skills and law as students compete in “live” trials against other schools and colleges.

Loreto’s students were commended by the judges on the high quality of their advocacy and their professionalism under pressure. The team has put in many hours of practice and thanks are due to Gwen Henshaw and Sue Hargreaves at Cobden House Chambers for their support.

The team will now progress to the national finals which are due to take place in March at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Not many students can say that they have argued a case at the Court of Appeal!

The team members were: Jack Simmonds, Chloe Rixon, Heba Khalid and Kira Pattenden (Barristers); Wiktoria Matuszewska, Haoda Nasralla, Hannah Foxley and Maria Khan (witnesses); Lily Clarke (Court Clerk); Daniel McGlashan and Bethany Baker (Ushers); Adeena Islam, Ebtehal Eshhubi, Iain Prendergast and Victoria Holland (jurors).