Youth Speaks

On Wednesday 24th November, after several weeks of preparation, three teams entered the Rotary Youth Speaks: A Debate Competition. 

Our local round was held at Arlington Arts against Kennet School who produced one Intermediate Year 8 team, and one Sixth Form Senior team. In the Intermediate Competition, the Year 8 Mary Hare Team went first, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of Nuclear Power. All members of the team spoke really well. Comfort Tenkoramaa did especially well as she was extremely nervous, and Harry Freestone was brilliant in his presentation of facts and figures to support his argument. Our Year 7 Team also produced a good presentation. Tom Miles (Frizzel) really impressed with the best speech he had done in all of our rehearsals. Mrs Furnell would like to commend Amber Jones who worked extremely hard throughout the preparation for the competition and made a confident presentation to the judges. Unfortunately, Kennet School were the winners of this competition with a debate about Veganism.

In the Senior Competition, Georgie Ellis and Neve Massey excellent presentations. They showed real personality and had learnt the content of their speeches really well. However, it was Miles Priestman who stole the show. He was extremely passionate and theatrical. Miles was named personally by the judges, the Head Judge commented she hoped to see Miles in parliament in the future. Kennet School also produced a very convincing entry; they debated Human Rights in the Criminal Justice System. It was the Mary Hare Team who won this round, which sees them into the next in the new year. Mrs Furnell would particularly like to mention the girls of the Senior Team, who showed very positive sportsmanship, congratulating the Kennet Team on their presentation before the results were announced. 

Thank you to Mr Trigwell-Jones, Nikki Davey, Mrs James and all other staff members who supported this endeavour.