STEWARDS Academy welcomed a Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge facilitator to work with Year 10 students recently.

Pupils participated in an all-day workshop and shared their speeches at the end. They found it a thoroughly engaging experience.

Pupil comments:

‘An amazing experience, I learnt how to communicate my opinions better.’

‘Engaging with others and listening to other people’s perspectives whether we agreed with it or not.’

‘Helped me express my opinion and gain the confidence to do so.’

 ‘I believe that today I have learnt how to communicate in order to reach your goals.’

‘I think that it’s a great opportunity for people to share their opinion and get involved with others.’

Six of the participants will go through to the next round of the Speak Out Challenge. They will prepare speeches to present to a panel on the 18th April and then one pupil will be chosen to go through to the regional final in Ongar on 13th May.

Alima Khan, English teacher, said: “The Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge has enhanced the speaking and listening skills of Year 10 pupils at Stewards Academy.

Pupils engaged confidently and passionately to the sessions and produced some incredible speeches on topics such as equality and equity, women in football and the cost-of-living crisis. I am super impressed with our pupils who showcased how dedicated, respectful, and kind they are in their discussions.”