The ability to connect and motivate an audience is a valuable skill and one which is nurtured through the regular opportunities that girls have to speak and present complex ideas to an audience. The Lower School Public Speaking competition in the Murray Centre was one such opportunity in which ten girls from Remove and Lower Fourth had just three minutes to present their case for or against the premise that ‘Global warming is a greater threat than COVID-19’. They were allowed to use their notes and each girl had a Lower Sixth Mentor who had supported and guided them to research and prepare their arguments. One of our on-line learners joined the competition live over teams from her home in Lagos.

The competition was judged by actress and alumna, Georgina Rylance (DH 1994) who said,

I was so impressed with all the girls and the confidence they displayed and very much hope that they will keep going with speaking in front of people as it’s a wonderful skill to be able to stand up and give your opinions with confidence and authority whether it be in a classroom, a debate, a competition, in school, later in the work place. For me all the girls were winners!

At the end of the evening, Pippa was crowned the winner out of the Remove girls with Sophia as runner up, and Niamh was the winner for Lower Fourth closely followed by Maria as runner up. Congratulations to all the girls who took part and our thanks to all the Sixth Form girls who were such great mentors.