Speak Out 2025

SPEAK OUT 2025

The annual public-speaking competition for primary schools, Speak Out, took place on February 6th with a record number of entries. There were 11 teams which is more than ever before as 7 different schools were represented – Fyling Hall School, Stakesby Primary Academy, Hawsker-cum-Stainsacre C of E Primary School, Lythe CEVC School, Ruswarp Church of England Primary School, Fylingdales C of E VC Primary School and East Whitby School.  What a fantastic turn-out!

“Whitby’s youngsters showed their bravery and determination in tackling the task of making speeches on a chosen topic in front of a sizeable audience,” said Mike Stones, the organizer, aided by a team of members of the Rotary Club of Whitby & District. “They did themselves proud, delivering their prepared speeches with confidence and building upon their own abilities. It is a pleasure to see the young people step up to the challenge and perform so well”.

The winners were a team from Fyling Hall, calling themselves the “Animal Angels” and made up of Seraphina Summersgill, Evelynne Metcalfe and Georgina McShane-Chapman who spoke on the topic ”Animal rights are just as important as human rights”. They spoke with good clarity and pace, supporting their ideas with well-researched facts and figures. An appreciative audience gave them warm applause.

In addition, the Perry Cup was presented to the Best Individual Speaker in any category. This year the winner was Alice Cornforth whose achievement was all the more creditable as she stepped up to take the role of main speaker because of last-minute illness. Her strong performance delighted the adjudicators, David Bradley and Tony Hewitt, both very experienced former teachers, who were unstinting in their praise.

Once again everyone left with a smile on their face and a feeling that Whitby’s youngsters have a bright future ahead of them!