On Saturday 27th February, two teams from Netherhall took part in the second District round of the ‘Youth Speaks’ public speaking competition, run by the Rotary Club.

Our Year 9 boys wrote speeches to support the idea that ‘The media massively influences public opinion’, in which they put forward a persuasive case that, too often, we are told what to think by TV, newspapers and the Internet. Our Year 8 girls’ team chose the enormously ambitious topic of ‘What is art?’ They defended some of our modern British artists and argued convincingly that art and meaning, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

After the day’s excellent speeches had concluded, the winners were announced: our Year 8 girls will be taking part in the Regional Finals of the Intermediate ‘Youth Speaks’ competition on Saturday 20th March. Congratulations to Madeline Dyson, Zahrah Azam and Isabelle Wilson, who returned with certificates and generous prizes donated by the Rotary Club.

Mrs Williams of the English Department, said, “These events give the students a platform and an experience that they would otherwise never encounter at this stage in their lives. After watching students taking part in public speaking activities, I can see how much it develops their confidence and self-belief. Thank you, Rotarians, and well done all of our excellent speakers!”