"'Jack Petchey's Speak Out Challenge!’ is the largest speaking competition for young people in the world."

 On Friday 27^th February, 30 Year 10 students were fortunate enough to be able to work with Emily Pollet, a trainer with Speakers Trust. Speakers Trust work with The Jack Petchey Foundation to train Year 10 students across London and Essex in the skill of public speaking.

Students had the day off from their normal timetable and spent the day in a workshop paid for by The Jack Petchey Foundation, receiving a day's training in the skills of public speaking and effective communication from Emily, a professional trainer. The Foundation sponsors ‘Jack Petchey's Speak Out Challenge!’ a public speaking competition run by Speakers Trust in schools throughout London and Essex.  The Speak Out Challenge has now worked with more than100,000 Year 10 students from 32 boroughs in London and 14 districts in Essex have now participated in the challenge.

Following the morning's training, students competed against each other in the afternoon to become The Ramsey Academy's representative in the Regional Inter-School Competition at Maltings Academy, Witham on 13th May at 6.00 p.m.  The winner of the regional final has the chance to go forward to the National Final at The Royal Albert Hall later in the year.  Competitors have the chance to win individual prizes as well as prizes for their school.

Many of the students chose to work through their lunch break in order to prepare their competition talks for the afternoon and their hard work and efforts were evident in the quality of the performances they produced.  Following some very earnest, and some very amusing speeches, Mr James and Mrs Gibbs, the judges, had a very difficult job to do in choosing the winner.  I am sure that you will join us in congratulating Sam Hawes who won through against very stiff opposition to become The Ramsey Academy’s representative at the North Essex Regional Final, and to Sophie Ford, who came second.  It genuinely was a real shame that not everyone could win!

To see more photos from this event please Click Here.