News Release

28th November 2002

HAVE 'A' LEVELS HAD THEIR DAY?

"That this House believes that A levels have had their day and should be replaced by an alternative examination system" is the subject of February's Michael Fabricant MP-Arthur Price of England Schools Speaking Competition being held in the Guildhall, Bore Street in Lichfield on the evening of Friday 7th February 2003.

The competition is open to students from all 5 Lichfield and Burntwood High Schools and takes the form of a Parliamentary debate. Sir Nicholas Winterton MP, a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, will Chair the debate and will also be a judge. Other judges will be John Price, OBE (Chairman of Arthur Price of England which provides the silver cups), Cllr Doris English (Mayor of Lichfield), Craig Thomas (local author including the book and film "Firefox"), and Mike Wilkinson (President of the Rotary Club of Lichfield St Chad which helps organise the event along with Cllr David Dundas).

The Competition will begin at 7.30pm and friends, relatives, and the general public are all encouraged to support the teams. Michael Fabricant will introduce the teams and award some of the prizes at the end of the event.