THREE pupils from St Peter’s School, York, have reached the grand final of a major public speaking contest.

Third Form (Year 9) pupils Victoria, Eliyah and Evie became regional champions following the regional round of the ESU Churchill Public Speaking competition.

The regional round, which was hosted online via Zoom, featured six teams including two teams from St Peter’s School, and teams from schools across the North East including Dame Allen’s, Newcastle High School for Girls, Malton School and Durham.

Evie was named Best Speaker of the round, while Eliyah and Victoria were questioner and chair respectively for the speech entitled ‘Man is born free, and is everywhere in chains’ (Jean-Jacques Rousseau).

Now they will take part in the grand final 2021.

Jo Lunardi, who co-ordinates the Debating Society at St Peter’s School, said: “They did a wonderful job, having worked on feedback from the last round and preparing well. I am so proud of them.”

Jeremy Walker, head at St Peter’s, said he was "proud".