Highgate pupils compete in public speaking competition

Pupils from across the borough competed in a thoughtful public speaking competition to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Teams of Year 9 students from St Thomas More Catholic School and Highgate Wood School joined those at Heartlands High School, where the event took place on Friday 1 February, to speak on the theme of Haringey's motto, 'Progress with Humanity'.

A panel of three judges – children's author Jonny Zucker, local artist Alina Gavrielatos and Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Haringey Major Rosemary Warne – judged the pupils on their argument and how well they spoke.

And after a narrow battle, they chose Heartlands' team of Essma Harris, Jordan Charles and Rahul Ashra as the winners for their thought-provoking speech.

DL Warne then presented the trio with the Peacock Cup, named in honour of the Deputy Mayor of Haringey, Councillor Sheila Peacock, who organises Holocaust memorial events in the borough each year.

It is the second year the competition has been held as part of the borough's Holocaust Memorial Day events.

Cabinet member for communities, Councillor Richard Watson, said: "It's great to see our young people speaking so passionately about an important subject. Congratulations to the pupils at Heartlands who came away with the trophy."