Students from across the county will need to be in strong voice as they compete in the county heats of the English-Speaking Union Public Speaking Competition, held at the University of Essex on Thursday 29 January and Friday 30 January.

The competition is open to students preparing for GCSEs in years 10 and 11. Teams from ten schools across the county have entered the competition which aims to give students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop fundamental skills in public speaking. The students will be addressing current issues, ranging from freedom of the press, the state of our prisons and whether GM foods should be banned.

The students will be judged on their performance by a local panel, including Brian Cooke, director of a language school, Brenda Kelly, a former business woman, Julie Brice, a solicitor and Professor James Raven of the University's Department of History.

The two heats are being held at the University's Colchester Campus in the Lecture Theatre Building on Thursday 29 January at 6pm and Friday 30 January at 6pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend. The winning teams from the two heats will progress to the East of England Regional final.

Last year, the winner of one of the heats, St John Payne Catholic Comprehensive School, went on to win the East of England Regional final and were just beaten into second place in the national final. There are high hopes that our local schools will do even better this year.

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Notes to editors:
The schools taking part are:
• Colchester Royal Grammar School
• Stanway School, Colchester
• St John Payne RC Comprehensive School, Chelmsford
• Felsted School, Chelmsford
• Westcliff High School for Boys, Southend on Sea
• Thomas Lord Audley School, Colchester
• The Gilberd School, Colchester
• Philip Morant School, Colchester
• St Helena School, Colchester

You are invited to attend both heats of the English-Speaking Union's Public Speaking Competition for schools at the University of Essex's Colchester Campus on Thursday 29 January at 6pm and Friday 30 January at 6pm. If you would like to attend, please contact the University of Essex Communications Office on telephone: 01206 872807 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk