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Success for SCD students at English Speaking Union Competition

Congratulations to Year 11 students who gave a great performance on Tuesday 29th January, when St Clement Danes School hosted the branch heats of the English Speaking Union Competition. Our students spoke with great eloquence and the judges awarded our teams 1st and 2nd place in the competition. The standard of the event was extremely high, and our students should be proud of their achievement.

Each team consists of three students - a Chairperson, a Questioner and a Speaker. Each role demands different but complementary skills.

The winning team was Milo (Chairperson), Alexander (Speaker ) and Louis, the questioner. Their subject was 'Is crowd funding the way forward for our business community?'

Runners up were Samantha (Chairperson), Darcy (Speaker) and Francesca (Questioner). Their subject was 'Children would be more creative if they didn't have to  go to school.'

The speaker talks on a pre-agreed topic for a maximum of five minutes. During that time they must articulate their argument and demonstrate a wide knowledge of their subject. The questioner then takes over, challenging the speaker on points within their speech or seeking clarification or further details. The chairperson's role is to open and close proceedings, introduce their team, manage questions from both the questioner and the audience, and keep things running to time.

During each round of the competition, the Chairperson and Questioner from one school were randomly selected to present with the Speaker from another school.

Thanks to Year 13 student Maxwell Duncan, who along with English teachers, Ms Heatley and Mrs McLetchie-George, assisted the students in preparing for the competition.

The next round of the competition is the East Regional Final, which will be held on Saturday 16th March 2019 at Magdalene College, Cambridge. We wish our students continued success at the next round of the competition. Well done!

To find out more information about the English Speaking Union Competition please follow the links below; 

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

https://twitter.com/esudebate?lang=en

 

 

 

 

 

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19th December

Charities Week 2025

The halls of St Clement Danes School have been buzzing with holiday cheer this week as the annual Charities Week is officially in full swing. As the Autumn Term draws to a close, pupils and staff have united to raise vital funds for three incredible causes: Endometriosis UK, Spread a Smile, and Herts Young Homeless. The school is alive with the spirit of giving, driven by a jam packed ‘Advent’ schedule designed to get everyone involved in the fundraising efforts. This year’s itinerary has been filled with exciting activities, ranging from pupil led lessons and a "Mystery Bucket" challenge to the competitive excitement of the "Elf Auction" and various competitions. Pupils have also enjoyed the classic "Sponge the Teacher" event and a visit to Santa’s Grotto, ensuring the festive atmosphere is matched only by the community’s generosity. Beyond the classroom activities, pupils have been sharing the festive spirit with the wider community. On 18th December, the SCD Senior Choir paid a special visit to Chorleywood Manor Care Home. The residents were treated to a beautiful selection of Christmas carols, featuring performances by members of the Chamber Choir, Evensong Choir, and the Barbershop Choir. Year 12 pupils Immy and Chrissie noted that "it was a very joyful occasion and it was lovely to see the residents joining in and looking so happy." The success of such a busy week relies heavily on pupil leadership, and the school extends a massive vote of thanks to Year 13 for their incredible hard work and dedication. Their enthusiasm have been the driving force behind this week's fundraising efforts. The week is set to conclude on Friday with the Grand Finale: the highly anticipated Sixth Form Revue, promising a spectacular end to a week of community, charity and celebration.