S3 pupils Cara Sinnett, Iona Orr and Ross Corbett, enjoyed success in the recent final of North Lanarkshire’s ‘Speaking Up’ public speaking competition. The 3 young speakers attended an information day at the start of March, where they, along with representatives from a further 11 secondary schools across the authority, were briefed on the rules and expectations of the competition. The theme for this year’s event was issues affecting Scotland’s young people. The 3 Clyde Valley pupils returned from the information day excited and immediately set to work on their speech. |
The final of the event followed two weeks later, on the last day of term before the schools would break for spring holidays. The trio travelled to Kildonan Street, Coatbridge, accompanied by Miss Claire Douglas, PT English, who had offered support and advice to the group in the lead up to the events. The final saw the Clyde Valley team face the teams from St. Aidan’s and Calderhead, and also the teams from St. Ambrose HS and Kilysth HS, the winner and runner-up from the heat between the schools in the north of the authority.
All pupils from across the schools spoke professionally and passionately, making the judges’ job exceptionally difficult. However, it was the teams from both St. Ambrose HS and Clyde Valley HS who caught the attention of the judges, with St. Ambrose coming out on top. Ross, Cara and Iona, were pleased to place second overall and agreed that it had been a most enjoyable and worthwhile experience for them. Miss Douglas was delighted with their efforts and expressed that they had been a credit to Clyde Valley High School.