WHEN it comes to public speaking, articulate students from Brentwood have proved they are top of the class.
Brentwood School's senior public speaking team beat teams from all over the UK to scoop the Rotary International in Britain and Ireland Youth Speaks 2013 trophy.
The victorious team comprised Helen Walls, 17, Izzy Fewster, 16, and Sam Turnpenny, 16, who reached the national finals in Hull after competing at school, local and regional level.
The competition is a four-stage contest designed to support and encourage the development of effective communications skills.
Izzy said: "I'm so proud to have represented the school.
"It was an unexpected honour to be crowned national champions at the final in Hull – we were up against some incredibly talented speakers and we knew it would be a close competition.
"I am so glad that I was offered the opportunity to be part of the team this year, along with Helen and Sam, who have been outstanding. Although I don't intend to make a career out of public speaking, I know that the general skills I have gained from it will be invaluable whatever career path I choose.
"I am now much more confident as a person, can articulate myself more clearly, structure a logical and persuasive argument, and think on my feet.
"Ultimately though, public speaking has taught me the importance of hard work, dedication and perseverance."
Helen said: "I still can't believe it. I know I speak for all three of us when I say we were amazed to get through the first round alone, not to mention the utter shock and delight of becoming national winners.
"Whether it was the uplifting support of our sponsor club, teachers and families, or our non-stop drive to rehearse, we certainly did all we could."
David Alton, the chairman of the Brentwood à Becket Youth Service Committee, which sponsored the team, said: "It was a superb, polished performance by an excellent team."
With just minutes to put their argument across, the teams had to introduce their chosen topic, deliver it in a clear, balanced and entertaining manner and invite the audience to be involved.
The Brentwood team, under the tutelage of English teachers Mary Callender and Robert Higgins, took to the platform with the topic 'Raising a child without cutlery' – an ironic and quirky look at the minimum age rules.
Seven teams of orators, aged 14 to 17 from across Britain and Ireland, competed in the senior final. Each team were sponsored by their local Rotary club and selected by judges from hundreds of competing teams at regional heats around the country.
Mr Higgins said he was ecstatic when the team won. "I am so proud of them. They deserved the victory and had put in so much hard work. They worked so well as a team and complemented each other."
Judges said the team had perfectly combined all the key public speaking elements of style, effectiveness, content and engagement.
