Kyle and Wellington Triumph at the Youth Speaks Competition

The Rotary Club, Youth Speaks District Final, was held in Glasgow. The quality of performance of the teams overall was said by the judges to have been ‘outstanding’. Wellington School, sponsored by Ayr Rotary  Club, came runners-up in the Intermediate section (11 to 14 years). A very creditable performance. Their team comprised of Ava O’Brien (Chair), Andrew Irvine (Proposing), and Jess Ewer (Opposing) with a motion of “Every child in the UK should be screened for neurodiversity.”

In the afternoon Kyle Academy, also sponsored by Ayr Rotary Club, triumphed in the Senior section (14 to 17 years). And the Kyle Academy team going forward to the ‘Youth Speaks – A Debate’ National Final in Norwich on 21 April is Emma Kay (Chair), Sophie Powell (Proposing), and Lucy Assur (Opposing). Their motion was about “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence”

Taking advice from the judging panel at Belmont Academy during the initial heats and trying to speak without notes in November, or, if must, referring to notes only occasionally, Kyle Academy started in the final slot during the afternoon in Glasgow. Their Chair, Emma, stunned the competition by picking up the lectern and carrying it to the back wall, well out of the way, signalling clearly that members of a real debating team disdained to use such a crutch. “Look on my face ye mighty, and despair!” (from Shelley’s Ozymandias). The judges took note and awarded the top accolade to Kyle. A magnificent, well deserved result. A magnificent, well deserved result.