On Monday 5th December the Cokethorpe Public Speaking AOB entered two Teams into the first round of the ESU Public Speaking competition. Emily (Fifth Form, Gascoigne) began proceedings for Team A with a speech exploring a feminist take on the title “We Lack Confidence.” Team A’s Chairperson and Questioner, Lily (Fifth Form, Gascoigne) and Elsa (Fifth Form, Feilden), then hosted a Speaker from the Oxford International College regarding the UN response to the migrant crisis.
It was then the turn of Team B’s speaker, Evie (Third Form, Swift), with her speech entitled “Latin and Greek should be offered in all schools,” before Archie (Fourth Form, Swift) and Stella (Fourth Form, Feilden) questioned a speaker from Magdalen College on the potential future collapse of capitalism. Our pupils conducted themselves with great poise under pressure and an impressive display of eloquence and intellectual curiosity. Both teams secured progression through to the second round and we wish them luck for the next heat in February.
