Oracy Week

Debates, discussions and speeches took centre stage for Speaking and Listening Week.

In our last full week of term, Speaking & Listening Week brought numerous opportunities for oracy in form times and beyond. Form groups took part in discussions and line debates on issues relating to the Employment Rights Bill currently under scrutiny in the House of Lords, from maternity leave to tipping culture.

Beyond this, students were invited to watch two engaging show debates. One involved students in Years 7 to 9 debating the value of feminists speaking out as opposed to listening; the other was a staff vs students debate on the US’ global superpower status. The latter involved four Sixth Form students taking on four teachers and, impressively, winning the audience vote.

On Thursday,  all students in Years 7 to 10 attended the English Department’s annual Public Speaking Competition Finals, posing perceptive questions to the finalists after each speech. Congratulations to the winners in each year group:

• Year 7: Sapphire – ‘If I Ruled the World’
• Year 8: Hailey – ‘Herd Mentality’
• Year 9: Carmel – ‘Romanticising Life’
•  Year 10: Marina – ‘Identity’

Finally, at the end of the week, we hosted the GDST Debating Competition, bringing together schools from the across the Girls’ Day School Trust and partner schools. Congratulations to Olive (Year 9) and Julia (Year 10) for winning the Grand Final of the Senior Competition, and to Nina and Amelie (both Year 9) for winning the Grand Final of the Junior Competition. Alongside them, South Hampstead had two other teams in the Senior Grand Final: Chiara (Lower Sixth) and Marina (Year 10), and Alex and Arya (both Year 10). Special congratulations also go to Fleurmarie and Aiyla (both Year 7) for making it to the Novice Final of the Junior Competition. This was a very exciting way to end a busy week of productive and lively discussions, with more oracy to come during our end of year event, Wrapped, and our forthcoming Bingham Debating Competition.