Youth Speaks Public Speaking Competition at Bridgewater School
Thursday, 29th January 2026
On Monday, 26th January 2026, a group of our Year 8 students proudly represented Harper Green School at our first Youth Speaks public speaking competition, held at Bridgewater School.
Accompanied by Mrs Adams and Mrs Hayes, Hollie, Meghety and Haleema spent weeks writing, practising and perfecting their roles in preparation for the event. Their chosen topic, The Decline in Face to Face Socialising Among the Younger Generation is one that resonated strongly with many teenagers and sparked thoughtful discussion.
Hollie delivered an engaging and thought-provoking speech and was the only competitor on the day to speak completely off script, an impressive achievement for her first time taking part in the competition. Haleema led her team with confidence, demonstrating excellent eye contact and presence, while Meghety finished the performance calmly and confidently, bringing the speech to a strong close.
All three students demonstrated our Harper values with pride throughout the event and received many compliments on their public speaking skills, topic choice and conduct.
Following the success of the competition, Mrs Adams will be exploring the launch of a public speaking club at Harper Green to help nurture confident, eloquent speakers and promote oracy, resilience and pride. We look forward to taking part in future Youth Speaks competitions run by the Rotary Club.
Well done to all involved!