The Speaker Competition is back!
Every year we run a trust-wide competition called the Speaker and I am pleased to announce that it is back.
The Speaker competition involves children writing their own speech and then they deliver this to an audience. It is a competition and there are different heats for the children to take part in; oracy is key. Across this week, all the children will be introduced to the competition and discuss this year’s topic. No child will be forced to take part and deliver their speech, but we hope many children will. It has also been set as an extra challenge on the blogs this week for half term where they can re-write, improve and practise delivering their speech.
This year’s topic:
We would like you to think of a new subject that you would like to be taught in your school and persuade your head of school to introduce it.
Use your imagination, this subject could be as wild and as wonderful as you like!
You’ll then need to focus on the art of persuasion to convince your head of school to introduce this new subject at your school!
What exactly is The Speaker?
- The Speaker is an oracy competition.
- Pupils in each class will prepare, rehearse, and perform a speech around the topic.
- The speech should be no longer than 2 minutes and should not use props or presentations.
- Each class will vote for their preferred speaker – 4 from each class will be found. (Class heats are the week beginning Monday 24th February and will take place in the children’s classrooms).
- There will then be a year group heat where 16 children will compete and will be selected to move forwards. (Week beginning Monday 3rd March). 4 children will be selected as year group winners to compete in the next round.
- The year group winners will then compete across the school by performing their speeches once more. Parents of these children will be invited to this heat. This will take place on Thursday 13th March. Letters will go to those children taking part.
- The judges will then vote for 4 school winners. Two from years 3 and 4 and two from years 5 and 6.
- These winners will perform their speech once more. This time competing against other school winners from Chilton Primary School and Ramsgate Arts Primary School.
- This year two overall speakers will be chosen, and awarded the title ‘The Viking Young Speaker, 2025’. One being from lower school (years 3 and 4) and one being from upper school (years 5 and 6). The date of the trust final is Friday 28th March at the Royal Harbour school and a letter will be sent out with the details.
What is oracy?
- Oracy is our ability to communicate effectively using spoken language.
- It is the ability to speak eloquently, articulate ideas and thoughts, influence through talking and have the confidence to express views.
Key dates:
- Over the half term write the speech. Information can be found on the blogs.
- Practice at home in front of people.
- Class heats are the week beginning Monday 24th February and will take place in the children’s classrooms.
- Week beginning Monday 3rd March - Year group heat where 16 children will compete and 4 will be selected to move forwards.
- Thursday 13th March (PM) - The year group winners will compete across the school by performing their speeches once more. Parents of these children will be invited to this heat.
- Friday 28th March – The Upton winners will perform their speech once more and go with Miss Scarr to Royal Harbour where they will compete against the winners from Chilton Primary School and Ramsgate Arts Primary School.
The Speaker is a wonderful opportunity for all children to get involved in and develop their oracy skills which are essential life skills.