The second of this year’s Primary School Public Speaking Competitions was generously hosted by Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, by kind permission of Professor Watkins on 26 March 2019. Ten teams from seven schools competed, each represented by a chair, a speaker and a questioner with teams paired together for authentic cross-questioning.
The whole event was magnificently compered by a number of primary school students in turn and featured the collective reading of the winning poem from an associated poetry writing competition. The competition adjudicators were ESU Head of Branch Education Liaison, Alex Bailey, ESU Governor, Ellen Punter and businesswoman Deirdre Morgan. Each school team comprised six members, including a captain who introduced their school, a poetry reader and another in a management role, resulting in a highly inclusive occasion.
The judges congratulated everyone who had taken part on their impressive performances. The winning team was from Woodville Primary 4A, South Woodham Ferrers, comprising chair, Ava, speaker, Henry and questioner, Beth. Second was Boreham Primary, Chelmsford, featuring Freya, Reece and Karthika and third was St Cedd’s K Team, Chelmsford, with Eleanor, Francesca and Isobel. The best chair was Sasha of St Cedd’s F Team, the best questioner, Francesca of St Cedd’s K Team and the best speaker, Reece from Boreham, who argued that healthy eating is important. The poetry competition winner was Sofia from St Francis Primary School, Maldon.
Medals and certificates were presented by former Colchester Councillor, Annesley Hardy.
The chairs, speakers, questioners, captains, poetry readers and managers respectively of the participating teams were as listed below:
Perryfields, Chelmsford – Lulu, Imogen, Aayush, Isha, Matus, Orla
Woodville Primary 4C, South Woodham Ferrers – Emma, Ami, Kyran, Oliver, Fay, Lexie
Holy Family, Witham – Sofia, Noah, Alfred, Akorfa, Alexis, Madison
Hockley Primary A Team – Gracie, Freya, Beth, Libby, Caleb, George
Hockley Primary B Team – Josh, Tia, Ellie, Mia, Harry, Sophia
St Francis, Maldon – Niamh, Isabelle, Ruby C, Joe G, Emily, Gabriel
St Cedd’s K Team – Eleanor, Francesca, Isobel, Aurelia, Harry, Finn
St Cedd’s F Team – Sasha, William, Ananya, Anoushka, Max, Rhea
Woodville Primary 4A, South Woodham Ferrers – Ava, Henry, Beth, Poppy, Charlie, Stanley