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ESU Regional Final 2025

 

Three Year 11 students competed in the Regional Final of the English Speaking Union (ESU) public speaking competition held in the Halle and Holborn rooms.  Katie L (Chair), Katherine W (Speaker) and Lars M (questioner) challenged teams from Royal Grammar School (High Wycombe), Bedford School, Bedford Modern School, Oxford High School and Radley College.

 

Only one team was chosen to go to the National Final and although SCD did not advance to the next round, the ESU judges thought the students ‘acquitted themselves very well in a contest where the standard was very high and there was little to choose between the teams overall’.   With an ‘exceptional speech which was both well constructed and delivered with obvious passion’, Katherine won the hearts of the judges and the audience when she presented the topic ‘The UK’s approach to tackling homelessness is not doing enough to support young people in need.’

 

Congratulations to the whole team for contributing to a highly successful evening!

 

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20th March

Future engineers reach new heights at Cambridge physics experience

Members of the Year 7 and 8 Science Club recently swapped the classroom for the historic halls of the University of Cambridge, taking part in the prestigious Cambridge Physics Experience. The day began with an inspiring tour of Churchill College, where pupils gained a unique insight into the architectural and academic history of the site. This was followed by an engaging presentation on university life, highlighting the long-term benefits of higher education and offering the group a glimpse into the exciting opportunities that await them in the future. The afternoon shifted from theory to practical engineering as the pupils were tasked with a series of high-stakes Martian challenges. Working in competitive teams, they were charged with designing and building model Mars Rovers capable of navigating a simulated rocky and sandy Martian terrain. In addition to the rovers, the teams had to construct landing modules engineered to survive a precarious drop from a high balcony. The competition was fierce, but it was our very own team 'Dux' that claimed the title of overall winners. Their rover outperformed the field by traveling the furthest distance across the challenging surface. Furthermore, their meticulous approach to the mass and structural integrity of their landing module paid off, resulting in a perfectly soft landing that impressed the judges. It was a fantastic day of hands-on science that showcased the ingenuity and teamwork of our junior scientists.