Year 10 students at Debden Park take part in Jack Petchey’s established, high profile programme.
The renowned programme provides essential tools for all young people – and thirty students were fortunate enough to attend the full day workshop on public speaking.
On Monday 25th March, a representative of the Jack Petchey foundation worked with a class of Year 10s in the LRC for a full day. The general purpose of the workshop was to learn how to embellish their public speaking skills on something they felt passionate about; effectively, and with purpose. However, before the students got the opportunity to showcase their talent at the end of the day, they were guided by the representative on planning their speeches and key tips on delivering it successfully.
Once all thirty speeches were ready and refined to be performed, each student got the opportunity to present theirs to the rest of the group and a few English teachers too. It was decided that the best four were to be selected to re-perform theirs in the Year 10 assembly. The best one, as voted by a panel of judges, would go on to represent Debden Park in the West Essex Regional Final.
On Wednesday 27th, a panel of SVLT judges, selected by Parveen Nawab (Literacy co-ordinator), judged each of the four candidates on their content and delivery. All four speeches took the judges’ (and the students and staff in the hall alike) breath away due to the incredible passion and messages conveyed by the students.
The student panel consisted of Executive Head Boy, Kai Melhuish, and the Year 11 SVLT’s Ashwin Gohil, Max Bolton and Amélie Ashton, who decided the student who was to represent Debden in the West Essex Regional Final. Even though all four were amazing, only one candidate made it through. There will be more details on the Regional Final to follow.
The Jack Petchey “Speak Out” Challenge continues to provide the vital skills that young people need in life; building on the 180,000 young people they have already delivered their services to.
