The team comprising of Amelie, Anoushka, Oreva and Tiana, all Year 10 students, secured the top spot by delivering a compelling argument on the motion "Poverty in the UK is a disgrace."

The competition, held at the prestigious Dartmouth House in Mayfair, saw Tonbridge Grammar School pitted against five other schools from across the region. The team, coached by Miss Wood, beat their opponents to earn the honor of representing the South East at Cambridge on 30 April.

The ESU's Churchill Public Speaking Competition is widely recognised as one of the most prestigious public speaking competitions for students in the UK. Participants are judged on their poise, content, and delivery, making it an excellent opportunity for students to develop their public speaking skills.

In addition to winning the regional final, Tiana was awarded the "best speaker" accolade, while Oreva received the "best questioner" award. The evening saw a range of thought-provoking motions debated, including "we expect more from technology than we do ourselves" and "we should give more power to local communities and less to central government."

The Tonbridge Grammar School Debating Society's achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the students, their coach, and the school's commitment to nurturing young talent.

Congratulations to the team for their remarkable success, and we wish them the best of luck for the upcoming national finals.

On 22 March myself, Anoushka, Tiana and Oreva took part in the Southeast Regional Final. We were able to speak at Dartmouth House in London it was a very enjoyable evening and an amazing opportunity for all involved. It was a very tough competition, but we were able to win the finals and will now advance to the National Finals which take place at Cambridge University in April. Tiana who was our speaker for the event, and spoke on the motion ‘should poverty in the UK be a disgrace’, said that ‘ The ESU Churchill Public Speaking Competition has provided an experience with equal excitement and challenge for my teammates and myself. It is an incredible opportunity, and I am extremely proud of the progress that we have made as a team. 

Amelie, Year 10