Philosopher and theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel once said, "Speech has power. Words do not fade. What starts out as a sound, ends in a deed." This wisdom perfectly encapsulates our annual Greenman Public Speaking Competition, a celebration of the immense power of speech to inspire, persuade and ignite change.  

This power was evident in this year’s competition, where students from Years 6 to 9 delivered thought-provoking speeches on an extraordinary range of topics, from space travel to artificial intelligence to the complexities of cancel culture. Each speech reflected not only intellectual curiosity but also students’ courage to stand up, speak out, and make their voices heard. 

Each student began their journey by writing and delivering a speech for their class and teacher, hoping to secure a coveted place in the year group semi-finals. With only two winners per class progressing, competition was fierce.  

The semi-finals, judged by Miss Shepherd (Year 7), Mrs Chandler (Year 8), and myself, Miss Willis (Year 9), were incredibly difficult to judge, as every speaker brought something unique and compelling. But, after much deliberation, two outstanding students from each year group earned their place in the Grand Final, held in the Theatre and presided over by our esteemed guest judge, Mrs Anderson, a lawyer, judge, and a member of our Blackheath High community. 

The afternoon of the Final was filled with eloquence, passion and sheer talent. Each finalist captivated the audience with their clear, persuasive, impassioned speeches, proving that the young women of tomorrow are more than ready to make their voices heard. It was a proud moment for staff, witnessing the eloquence and passion of the young minds that bring Blackheath High School to life every day. 

Written by Miss Willis, English teacher 

Phoebe, Year 9 - Finalist and Highly Commended for Year 8 and 9 Competition  

Performing in the Greenman Debate Grand Final definitely sounds as thrilling and exciting as it felt. My speech topic was “We Should Be Worried About the Rise of Intelligent Machines”, which I chose due to my passion for human connection and communication. I feel very strongly that human communication is unique, and one of our traits that sets us far apart from other animal species. The ability to understand each other’s feelings and emotions is a special thing that we need to preserve and keep for the future. Maybe I have seen too many films focused on technology going wrong “technology goes wrong” but I believe strongly that even though technology has changed our lives in many ways for the better, we must continue to be wary of intelligent machines, which have many children – and in fact most of the population – in their grip. In fact, a recent survey shows that most Brits couldn’t go more than a couple of days without their phones. 

I was so proud of myself to make it through to the Grand Final – it was amazing to see that all my hard work had paid off, and I was overjoyed. Preparing for it was as exciting as it was nerve-wracking - although I thoroughly enjoy public speaking, I have to admit that I was a little terrified, but practicing consistently with my friends and family helped to get rid of my nerves. That perseverance paid off because, although I slipped up a few times, I felt really confident and avoided too many mistakes. Practice does make perfect! Performing in front of the English department also felt daunting, but I found that seeing a familiar face boosted my confidence hugely when I stepped up onto the stage. I thought about how hard I had worked towards this moment, and I delivered my speech confidently, looking up at the judges and audience throughout. 

I believe public speaking is such an important thing to be able to do—to stand up in front of lots of people, many of whom you might not know, and to deliver a speech you wrote and worked hard on about something you believe in, with a confident smile and optimistic attitude, is such a gift. Every woman should learn and be able to experience it so that we are able to step up in the workplace, to prove that we can do anything a man can do and to share our thoughts and views through the power of public speech. I believe that the Greenman Debate Competition is such a great opportunity to be able to do just that, and I hope that many more students find joy in public speaking like I do. 

Sara-Maya, Year 9 - Winner of the Year 8 and 9 Greenman Public Speaking Competition 2025 

Competing in the final round of The Greenman Competition was both exciting and nerve wracking. I felt proud that I had made it that far, but really nervous because I knew the pressure was on. I wanted to do my best and deliver my speech as clearly and engagingly as possible. To manage my nerves, I focused on staying calm and remembering all the preparation I had done. Taking deep breaths and focusing on my points helped me feel more in control. Once I started speaking | focused on delivering my message clearly and staying engaged with the audience.  

Winning the competition was unexpected to say the least. More than anything, I was grateful for the opportunity to take part and improve my public speaking skills. This experience taught me a lot about handling pressure and nerves and staying focused. No matter the outcome it was a valuable learning experience that will help me in the future. 

Well done to our winners and all finalists below. 

Winners: 

• Isla, Year 7 (It’s time to ban Bonfire Night celebrations)  

• Sara-Maya, Year 9 (Good things come to those who wait) 

Highly commended: 

• Margot - Year 6 (Chores are good for you) 

• Phoebe - Year 9 (We should be worried about the rise of intelligent machines) 

Other finalists: 

• Violet - Year 6 

• Xanthe - Year 7 

• Emma - Year 8 

• Darcy – Year 8