Students from seven of the district’s schools will battle it out next month to debate whether the voting age should be reduced.

The annual competition will see students from Roding Valley High School and Davenant Foundation School in Loughton and Braeside School in Buckhurst Hill speaking against the motion at the debate on November 7.

Speaking for the motion will be pupils from Debden Park High School in Loughton, Chigwell School and West Hatch High in Chigwell and Epping St John’s in Epping.

The teams will debate at Roding Valley High School, in Alderton Hill, on whether the voting age should be reduced from 18 to 16.

West Hatch High School careers co-ordinator Geoff Towsey said: “The topic is very relevant, considering the Scottish Independence referendum.

“We are looking forward to the competition and putting forward our argument regarding the motion.

“I will also be interested to see what points some of the other teams put forward.”