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Students selected for English Speaking Union Branch Finals

The first round of the English Speaking Union Public Speaking Competition was held at St Clement Danes School on 7th December. Our students have previously been successful in reaching the National Finals of this nationwide competition.

Year 11 students Izzy Marston (Chairperson), Maxwell Duncan (Speaker) and Florence McGrath (Question Master) represented our school in the competition. The topic for their speech was ‘Would the world be a more peaceful place if it was governed by women?’ Maxwell argued that what is needed for a peaceful world is simply effective and capable leaders, irrespective of gender.

The chair and question master from each team ‘hosts’ a speaker from another team for their ‘presentation’: this arrangement allows for spontaneous debate on the topics once the main speech has been delivered. The speakers are also put on the spot by the audience who may question them on their topics.

Izzy and Florence joined a speaker from Haileybury College. The Haileybury speaker’s topic was 'Politicians deserve our respect, agree with them or not.’ Maxwell joined two students from Aylesbury Grammar School.

The SCD team were awarded the highest points on the night, and have therefore been selected to go forward to the Hertfordshire Branch Final on 1st February at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School in Elstree. St Clement Danes School was complimented on being ‘the best hosts in Herts!’

Best of luck to our students on 1st February!

Follow the link below to find out more about this nationwide competition.

http://www.esu.org/our-work/uk-public-speaking-competition

 

 

 

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29th January

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