Oundle School orators from the Third, Fourth and Fifth Forms (Years 9-11) recently competed in the area heat of the ESU Churchill Public Speaking Competition for Schools at Uppingham School. Adjudicators included Mr David Lee, Miss Caroline Windsor and Mr John Cartwright, all of whom have regularly adjudicated this event.
Two Oundle teams were among the seven competitors. Each team presented a formal display featuring a chairperson, a questioner and a guest speaker who delivered the topic for discussion. The presentations were judged on style, content, authority and engagement.
Competition was both vigorous and stiff, and as only one team of the seven competing would go through, Oundle did very well to be that one team, addressing the topic ‘The Internet is a Drug and We are All Addicted’. The winning team comprised Catherine Swanston (14) as Chair, William Slinger (14) as Speaker and George Brettle (15), as Questioner. George was also awarded Best Questioner of the evening.
The regional round of the competition will be held at Magdalene College, Cambridge in March.