The final of the annual Sixth Form Public Speaking Competition covering the east of England was held online on 30 November 2022. Six speakers took part, each of whom had qualified through a school heat and an area semi-final in thsi competition organised by ESU Colchester. BBC political journalist Charlotte Rose, ESU Deputy Chair Professor James Raven and Chair of the ESU Young Members’ Forum Louis Preston judged Ioanna MacKenna (pictured top left) of The Perse School, Cambridge, to be the winner, and Danielle Fookes from Felsted School (bottom left) as runner-up. Ioanna elucidated the use of psychological warfare and Danielle argued that Disney has failed to represent society. Each receives a prize from the ESU of a National Book Token.
Thirty-one entrants from nine schools participated in the competition overall with the following also reaching the final: Will Blewitt from St Benedict’s Catholics School, Bury St Edmunds; Sanchana Hiththatiyage from Farringtons School, Kent; Akshada Srivastava from King Edward VI Grammar School, Chemsford and Evie Tongue from Colchester County High school for Girls. Congratulations go to all involved.
