On Thursday 19th January 2017 the Rotary Club of Maidenhead organised a “Youth Speaks” competition at Claire’s Court School, Maidenhead by kind permission of the Head Teacher.
For those who don’t know of this competition perhaps a little introduction would be helpful:
The Rotary Youth Speaks Competition is a well-established and successful competition organised and promoted by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. It is a four stage competition (Local, District, Regional and National) which is designed to support and encourage the development of effective communication skills.
This competition aims to offer young people
Who can take part?
The competition is open all schools and college communities including those that are home educated and any other young people’s community organisations, for example Scout Groups, Girl Guides. Each team comprises three students in full time education in two age groups: Intermediate (11 to 13 years) and Senior (14 to 17 years).
For those who don’t know of this competition perhaps a little introduction would be helpful:
The Rotary Youth Speaks Competition is a well-established and successful competition organised and promoted by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. It is a four stage competition (Local, District, Regional and National) which is designed to support and encourage the development of effective communication skills.
This competition aims to offer young people
- experience in speaking on a public platform as a member of a team
- an incentive to formulate ideas on topical subjects
- discipline in dealing with a topic in a limited time
- the opportunity of learning and practising high standards of expression, presentation and appearance
- impartial feedback and assessment of performance by experienced adjudicators
Who can take part?
The competition is open all schools and college communities including those that are home educated and any other young people’s community organisations, for example Scout Groups, Girl Guides. Each team comprises three students in full time education in two age groups: Intermediate (11 to 13 years) and Senior (14 to 17 years).
Furze Platt School winning team
Holyport College winning team
In our area, Maidenhead Rotary Club had 7 participating teams from 5 Schools and Colleges and these were:
Holyport College who fielded two Intermediate Teams and one Senior Team.
Claires Court School with one Intermediate Team.
Berkshire College of Agriculture, Furze Platt School, Newlands Girls School who each entered one Senior Team.
Each team consisted of a Chairperson who controlled the team’s performance, the Speaker who had 6 minutes to speak on their chosen subject and the Person who gave a vote of thanks to the Speaker. There was also an opportunity for questions.
The teams were each given a time of 10 minutes, and gave amazing presentations on a whole range of different subjects as diverse as the use of mobile phones and tablets by young people, the history of the formation and subsequent marketing of Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola and their health implications, and a discussion on whether in today’s world “Chivalry is Dead”.
In the Senior section the subjects covered thought provoking presentations on “Is UK Media regulation effective?”, “Why Britain should abolish the Monarchy”, a discussion on “The acceptability of the Worlds oldest profession” and “The Butterfly Effect” and how small changes can change the World.
All in all a great completion for our local Schools and Colleges to participate and an opportunity for our young people to practise the art of public speaking.
After all the presentations were made the 3 members of the Judging Panel, Mike Clark, Catherine Wallis and Richard Kellaway were faced with some incredibly difficult decisions but two teams emerged victorious - for the Intermediate section the team from Holyport College, Arte Sershi, Teagan Pickering and Lucinda Killington for their presentation on “Chivalry is Dead” were the winners. For the Senior section the team from Furze Platt School, Sam MacGregor, Patrick Ashe and Olivia Flood were judged to be the winners with their presentation “Why Britain should abolish the Monarchy”.
The two winning teams will now represent Maidenhead at the District Final in Marlow on the 26th January.
Hearty congratulations to all teams, teachers and their supporters who had a very interesting and enjoyable evening and to the Rotary Club of Maidenhead, who organised the competition.
For more information on the competition or if you would like to know more about Rotary International, please go to www.maidenheadrotary.co.uk or [email protected]
Holyport College who fielded two Intermediate Teams and one Senior Team.
Claires Court School with one Intermediate Team.
Berkshire College of Agriculture, Furze Platt School, Newlands Girls School who each entered one Senior Team.
Each team consisted of a Chairperson who controlled the team’s performance, the Speaker who had 6 minutes to speak on their chosen subject and the Person who gave a vote of thanks to the Speaker. There was also an opportunity for questions.
The teams were each given a time of 10 minutes, and gave amazing presentations on a whole range of different subjects as diverse as the use of mobile phones and tablets by young people, the history of the formation and subsequent marketing of Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola and their health implications, and a discussion on whether in today’s world “Chivalry is Dead”.
In the Senior section the subjects covered thought provoking presentations on “Is UK Media regulation effective?”, “Why Britain should abolish the Monarchy”, a discussion on “The acceptability of the Worlds oldest profession” and “The Butterfly Effect” and how small changes can change the World.
All in all a great completion for our local Schools and Colleges to participate and an opportunity for our young people to practise the art of public speaking.
After all the presentations were made the 3 members of the Judging Panel, Mike Clark, Catherine Wallis and Richard Kellaway were faced with some incredibly difficult decisions but two teams emerged victorious - for the Intermediate section the team from Holyport College, Arte Sershi, Teagan Pickering and Lucinda Killington for their presentation on “Chivalry is Dead” were the winners. For the Senior section the team from Furze Platt School, Sam MacGregor, Patrick Ashe and Olivia Flood were judged to be the winners with their presentation “Why Britain should abolish the Monarchy”.
The two winning teams will now represent Maidenhead at the District Final in Marlow on the 26th January.
Hearty congratulations to all teams, teachers and their supporters who had a very interesting and enjoyable evening and to the Rotary Club of Maidenhead, who organised the competition.
For more information on the competition or if you would like to know more about Rotary International, please go to www.maidenheadrotary.co.uk or [email protected]
The Judging Panel - Mike Clark, Catherine Wallis and Richard Kellaway