Find out more
On Friday 1 December, the Fourth Form Academic Scholars took part in our annual Balloon Debate, in which they delivered a three-minute speech about a non-Western changemaker (who was alive in the 20th century) incorporating skills they had learned in a series of public speaking workshops. The event was well attended, and we thank all the parents present for their support and encouragement.
The first round saw the scholars divided into two groups, from which six finalists were due to be chosen. However, the standard was so high that the judges were unable to narrow it down to three short-listed candidates per group, meaning that the final round featured eight speakers, which had never happened before. This is testament to the extraordinary quality on show across the board, both in terms of content and oratory skills.
The characters represented in the final spanned a century in their dates of birth (from Mahatma Gandhi in 1869 to Zainab Salbi in 1969); came from Argentina, China, Ghana, India, Iraq, Kenya; included activists, doctors, an educationalist, an entrepreneur, a lawyer – and several Nobel Prize winners.
The Academic Scholars faced a dual challenge as they were evaluated on both their research prowess and public speaking skills. Their task was to embody their chosen characters, effectively establishing their identity, and using in-depth subject knowledge to highlight the importance and impact of these figures. In doing so, they were encouraged to employ various public speaking techniques learned from workshops with Mrs Hamilton. This included structuring their speeches clearly, using rhetorical questions, signposting, creating memorable soundbites, and strategically repeating key points for emphasis. Additionally, they were encouraged to enhance their presentations by speaking audibly and engagingly, adopting variations in pitch, pace, and pauses, and complementing their words with expressive body language and facial expressions. The goal was to deliver their speeches confidently, relying minimally on prompt cards, thereby demonstrating a deep understanding of their characters and topics.
Of the eight finalists, three were selected as runners-up (Tom H, Andrew L and Millie M) but the overall winner was Nefeli M, whose speech on Esther Afua Ocloo was simply mesmerising.
All participants can be warmly congratulated on their brilliant commitment in the build-up to the Balloon Debate as well as on the night. They certainly were a great credit to the College and to the Academic Extension programme.
