PUPILS at The Royal School have been taking part in the school’s fifth annual Stoatley Talks public speaking competition. 

The final was held in the school’s lecture theatre following heats during the autumn term.

All year seven, eight and nine pupils took part in the heats during English lessons.

Head of English Mrs Bartles said: “We firmly believe all pupils need the opportunity to present themselves and be able to address an audience. While this is daunting for most, it is an essential life skill and prepares them not only for GCSE, where speaking and listening is a compulsory element of the syllabus, and any public speaking competitions they might choose to enter, but also for their life beyond the classroom.”

As in the past, year seven topics were ‘Hobbies,’ the year eights had ‘Don’t Get Me started On’ and the year nines were expected to cover a current affairs item of their own choosing.

A school spokesman said: “The audience was treated to a fine display of public speaking and a great range of topics. The finalists made it all look easy as they took the floor enthusiastically supported by friends and family.”

Winners were Helena (Y7), who spoke about her hobby of transforming unwanted items into treasures; Suzy (Y8) about gender stereotyping; Finlay (Y9), who spoke about the Calais Jungle, and overall winner, Richard (Y8) about bullying and bullies.

Finally, Aniela (Y10) used the opportunity to practise her speech ahead of the regional heats of the ESU-Churchill National Public Speaking competition.