November 13th saw Westgate Primary School in Warwick host the annual “Youth Speaks” competition to give local young people a chance to demonstrate their public speaking skills.
This year 21 young people competed in seven teams from: Kineton High School; Kingsley School; Myton School; Kings High, and Warwick School. Students competed as Intermediates (11-13), or Seniors (14 -17), with prizes awarded to the winning teams, and the opportunity to compete in the West Midlands regional competition and potentially the National Finals.
Each team of three members had 15 minutes to debate a topic of their choosing. The Intermediates chose to debate whether “It is more important to explore oceans than space”; “Plastics should be banned” and “We should contact uncontacted tribes”, whilst Seniors considered whether “Cancel culture does more harm than good”; “VAT on school fees should be abolished” “In future should humanity colonise Mars?”
This annual event gives young people a chance to voice their opinions on topics they feel strongly about and demands significant research, knowledge and the confidence to present arguments clearly and concisely.
The contestants were judged by an experienced panel well steeped in the mystical art of public speaking. The event was hosted by Rotary Club President, Dick Dixon, and was attended by Warwick Deputy Mayor Cllr Jackie D’Arcy, parents and colleagues.
Head Judge Louise Haines commented that everyone had done their research and made some thought provoking points, and the results had been very close.
The Intermediates competition was won by the team from Warwick School
and the Senior competition was won by the team from Kingsley School.
Warwick Deputy Mayor Cllr Jackie D’Arcy presented Book tokens donated by Warwick Books to the winning teams. She congratulated all the speakers for putting a lot of thought into challenging topics and told them that it is important to “Find your Voice” in order to get on in the world.
President Dick Dixon the event said that the Rotary Club had been organising the competition for many years and all the teams were “winners” in that learning how to speak in public gives everyone an advantage in life.
The winners will go forward to the Regional Finals
Rotarian Jon Wassall closed the evening thanking parents and teachers who supported them through the preparation process and wishing them well with their exams.
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