Debate teams shine in public speaking competition
Our Senior School students have recently demonstrated their confidence, critical thinking and communication skills through their participation in two prestigious public speaking competitions, representing the school with distinction on both occasions.
On 26th January, Bridgewater proudly hosted the first round of the Youth Speaks Public Speaking Competition for the very first time, in partnership with Worsley Rotary. The event brought together teams from several schools and marked an exciting milestone for Bridgewater as a host venue.
Bridgewater entered five teams across the Intermediate and Senior sections, with students ranging from Year 7 to Year 10. Competitors delivered engaging and thought-provoking speeches on a wide range of contemporary topics, including:
- Unseen disabilities
- Critical thinking vs revision: the failures of the school system
- The benefits of video games
- The fear of change
- Is AI really making us smarter?
The standard of speaking throughout the evening was exceptionally high and Bridgewater teams achieved outstanding results, finishing as both winners and runners-up in each section. Students impressed judges with their well-researched arguments, clarity of delivery and confident presentation skills, representing themselves and the school admirably. Members of Worsley Rotary praised the professionalism, maturity and quality of the students’ contributions, providing extremely positive feedback on both the event and the performances.
Later that same week, Bridgewater’s commitment to public speaking continued as three members of the school’s Public Speaking Team competed in the second round of the English Speaking Union’s Churchill Public Speaking Competition, held at Manchester High School for Girls. The Year 9 and 10 team consisted of:
- Oliver Matthews
- Sasha Viljoen
- Alexa Milho
Facing strong competition from Year 11 students from other schools, the team narrowly missed out on a place in the final. Despite this, their performances were of an excellent standard and reflected a high level of preparation and maturity.
These competitions highlight the enthusiasm and dedication of Bridgewater students, and reinforce our school’s strong tradition of excellence in public speaking and debate skills.
