What a Week to Public Speak!

After disappointment for our Year 7s Lucas, Alice and Olivia, on Tuesday 19th November 2024, at the Intermediate Rotary Youth Speaks competition, despite putting their best efforts into their first attempt at public speaking about the Importance of Remembrance, the bitterness of defeat gave way to sweet, sweet victory!!

On Wednesday 20th November 2024, both Balshaw's teams got through to the second round of the English-speaking Union national public speaking competition. Milly B, May M, Sam S and Ewan S excelled as Chairs and Questioners and Clarisse L and Isabel P shone as speakers. Clarisse used the Jackson Pollock painting Full Fathom Five (1947) as her inspiration for the speech about a cultural and political sea change after the Second World War and Isabel spoke about the hijacking of social media as a global superweapon by political tyrants under the title: "Is social media the new global superpower, or just a place for cat videos and memes."

On Thursday 21st November 2024, Omar, Zac, Will and Rory defended our Lancashire Great Debate title at the grand finals at the Council Chamber at County Hall and WE WON AGAIN! for the second year running. This was a major achievement because we were faced with competition from all over Lancashire! The theme was what will Lancashire wook like in 50 years and the boys suggested we invest in anaerobic digestion plants instead of incineration plants and eliminate plastic pollution and landfill sites. The team hope that the Council will act on their suggestions and really enjoyed the opportunity to share their ideas in such grand surroundings.

Omar said: 

"It was amazing.  We were all really calm under pressure.  Our school won last year too so we'll be aiming for a third win next year!"

Rory added: 

"I think we performed really well and it was good to see other schools doing something like this too."

Zac said:

"With all of our preparations, everything went to plan and it was thrilling to get up on that stage and deliver such an important message to the County Council."

Will commented:

"It definitely lived up to my expectations and in many ways exceeded them and the sense of achievement we felt after we won was second to none."

One parent said: 

"I was struck by the hard work Dr Breen had obviously put in behind the scenes to ensure that the team were as well prepared as they could be...I was especially grateful for the opportunity to see my first born shine alongside his team mates." 

Here are some photographs from this event:

That same evening, the Rotary Youth Speaks Senior Competition was held in the drama studio and we won....

Best Chair: Isabel Pearson

Best Speaker: Mischa Daggers

Best Vote of Thanks: Ewan Sutherland

Best Overall Team: Isabel, Mischa, Ewan (speech on Screen time parenting)

2nd Place Team: Milly as Chair, Millie (whose speech about the North/South divide in education heavily criticised Government underfunding of education in the North of England) and May as Vote of Thanks.

Sophie, Chloe and Sam's team speech about Identity was also highly praised.

County Councillor Michael Green (LCC Cabinet member) and County Councillor Karen Walton (Leader of the Conservative Party at LCC) praised all Balshaw's teams' efforts. Another of the judges was a member of the National Association of Speakers Clubs, Anne Marie Bouget, and it is almost unheard of for Best Chair/Speaker/Vote of Thanks to also walk away with first place which shows the exceptionally high standard of public speaking teams here at Balshaw's. 

Well Done All! #greatlancashiredebate

Here are some photographs from the event:

You can read more on the Lancashire County Council webpage here: https://news.lancashire.gov.uk/news/congratulations-to-the-winners-of-the-great-lancashire-debate. We acknowledge use of the wonderful photographs from the event.