Writes Matthew Hilton-Dennis, Head of English, Viraaj V. (Divs) and Ossie K. (Divs)
On Wednesday, 18th March, two of our finest public speakers in Divisions travelled to Guildhall in the City of London to compete in the London Finals of the annual public speaking competition, organised by the Worshipful Company of Educators. Viraaj V. and Ossie K. had already distinguished themselves in last year’s MTS Public Speaking Competition, and were therefore given the honour of representing the school in this prestigious competition.
They joined representatives from London schools across the independent and state sectors, who treated the audience to speeches of the very highest calibre. Both Viraaj V. and Ossie K. excelled, receiving plaudits from the audience and judges, with Ossie going on to be awarded the prize for Runner-Up, a commendable achievement. They are to be congratulated for their efforts, and you can read their own reflections on the experience below.
By Viraaj V. (Divisions)
Last week, Ossie K. and I had the privilege of representing the school at the annual public speaking competition hosted by the Worshipful Company of Educators at Guildhall. Set in one of London’s most distinguished venues, the event brought together students from across the city in Years 10 and 11 to present speeches on a range of personal and philosophical topics.
Arguably one of the best deliveries of the evening, Ossie’s speech explored the idea that “nobody is normal,” challenging the audience to reconsider how we define individuality and the extent to which people feel pressured to conform to society. His argument was both insightful and powerful, earning him the well-deserved position of runner-up.
My own speech, titled The Beauty of Unorganised Chaos, took a slightly different approach, examining how structure and disorder share a symbiotic relationship in our daily lives. I argued that what often appears chaotic can, in fact, lead to something more powerful when we work with it rather than against it.
The experience of preparing and delivering the speech was as rewarding as it was demanding, requiring both clarity of thought and confidence under pressure. Each participant also faced a series of questions in the four minutes following their speech, encouraging further reflection on their ideas.
Beyond the competition itself, the evening was a fantastic opportunity to engage with a wider community of articulate and ambitious students. Listening to such a range of perspectives was both humbling and inspiring, and many new connections were made in the process.
Overall, the event was a memorable experience, not only for the results achieved, but for the opportunity to step onto a prestigious stage, share ideas, and grow as speakers. It is an experience that both of us would gladly pursue again.
By Ossie K. (Divisions)
Last Wednesday (18/03), myself and Viraaj V. participated in the Worshipful Company of Educator’s annual Public Speaking competition. Fourteen GCSE students gathered to present speeches on any topic they chose, preparing and giving 4-minute speeches on the topic followed by a 4-minute interview segment open to the floor. Myself and Viraaj chose normality and organised chaos respectively, and both of our speeches were very well received by an audience of over fifty people.
Speeches were given on a wide range of topics from ankylosing spondylitis – a condition where the body attacks itself – to the Barbie Movie and its advice on how to live in a patriarchal world. These speeches could move the audience to want to laugh, to want to cry, or even to want to fight!
The most successful speeches were those that trod the fine line between performance and lecture. An ability to think on one’s feet was tested when any of the guests could pose whatever question they pleased. After thoroughly deconstructing normality for 4 minutes, I was requested to “Give one example were a norm helps society”. If you could not back up your conclusion and reify your call to action throughout the questions, your standings suffered…
The speech that won in the end was delivered by Charlie S. from City of London School for Girls on “The Forgotten Era of Section 28”. Her power and emotion coupled with the fierce academic rigour with which her speech was composed led to her victory. Also to be seen on the podium were the two runner ups – myself and Florence B. with “Hands that Speak: Why Makaton should be added to the curriculum”.
Perhaps most surprising was the comradery the competitors found with each other. Only a few minutes after fighting for the first-place spot, hugs, well wishes and congratulations were spread around the crowd as we bonded over their passion for public speaking.
