Reed's School is taking a debate to London's Guildhall, with a star-studded panel in tow.

Sporting greats will discuss the power of sport in helping to overcome childhood deprivation and disadvantage at the second Andrew Reed Debate.

It will be chaired by BBC presenter John Inverdale and will include Tim Henman OBE, former pupil of the Cobham school, and Tessa Sanderson-White CBE.

Mr Henman said: "In sport it's easy to quantify success by winning or losing, but what's really important is giving 100 per cent in whatever you do. I was lucky to attend Reed's School as a tennis scholar in their dedicated Slater programme, but was also able to take part in a range of other sports from hockey to golf, cricket to athletics.

"It was the diversity of pupils who attended the school that made for an engaging community where sport acted as a real catalyst in building life long relationships.

"The Andrew Reed quote of 'a good education is a fortune a child can never spend' still rings true but we need to ensure we can offer this opportunity to more than just the fortunate. Sport has an important part to play in this goal."

The debate will take place on Thursday, February 5, in front of 700 business leaders.

Mrs Sanderson-White said: "I am a good example of how sport can change a person's life. As a young black athlete in the 1970s, it was my focus on sport that drove me to succeed, not only on the track and field, but in my whole outlook on life."