On the afternoon of the 13th October our Debating team took part in the termly South Hampstead High School GDST Public Speaking Competition.

The format of the event included two rounds followed by a final and attracted over 40 students from nine different schools. The event was held online on Zoom, and each student spoke without notes for five minutes on a topic of their choice, before answering questions from an audience and judges. They then had to take the role of a ‘Compere’ and introduce and question another speaker from a different school. Speeches were judged on variation in tone, pace and pitch; original thought and interesting ideas and audience engagement. From the Comperes, the adjudicators looked for the following criteria – an organised and calm manner, clear control of their section of the event; questions that demonstrate active listening and allow the speaker to explore their ideas further, and a welcoming and engaging interview style.

It was a fascinating and fun evening of speeches, relaxed and informal. Lewhat Y spoke on how humanity lost its empathy and why it’s so important that we recover it. Elizabeth O’B spoke on why we should all care more about plants. Dunya A spoke about the evolution of rock and roll. Niamh S spoke about the evolution of music over the past 40 years.

Public Speaking and Debating News

Auditions are well under way for this year’s GDST Chrystall Carter Prize, the Year 11 only GDST-wide public speaking competition. One student will go on to represent Notting Hill speaking on a topic for seven minutes, before facing a Q&A from an audience and judging panel. We were thrilled to have so many Year 11 students signed up – there were so many that the auditions have had to take place over three days! Watch out for the ‘Grand Reveal’ of the winning student coming next week!

We are excited to be taking part in the English Speaking Union Mace Competition. This is a national debating event taking place on the evening of Thursday November 11th.

Forming our NHEHS Team this year are:

Yasmeen C (Summary Speaker); Selena A (2nd Opposition Speaker); Divyasree K (1st Opposition Speaker); and Asha M (Swing). They will be opposing the motion, “This House Believes That artists have a moral duty to be political in their work.” Good luck to all of you!