Press Release from RPA

Orators discovered at Richmond Park Academy

Local primaries and VIPs invited to the Academy’s

first public speaking competition on Monday 28 March

Richmond, Monday, 28 March 2011: Students from Richmond Park Academy have been working in partnership with St Paul’s Independent School in London on the key aspects of delivering an excellent speech. Richmond Park Academy students took their newly acquired skills and knowledge into local primary schools, sharing what they had learnt with Year 5 pupils from across Richmond and Barnes. Students identified the most talented public speakers in the primary schools and then mentored them in preparation for the final competition at Richmond Park Academy.

Pupils from five local primary schools came together for an afternoon of debate, discussion and delivery. Pupils delivered their speeches, which they had prepared in collaboration with Richmond Park Academy students, in front of a VIP judging panel, which included the editors from the Richmond and Twickenham Times, The Richmond Magazine and The Richmond Informer. Pupils were marked on the quality of their delivery and the knowledge and understanding of their chosen topic.

This was a wonderful opportunity for pupils from across the borough to work together, and in competition with one another. The mentoring and advice they received from Richmond Park Academy students proved invaluable.  Participating pupils did exceptionally well, the confidence and clarity with which they spoke impressing the judges and resulting in a difficult decision as to who the ultimate winner should be! Congratulations to Barnes Primary who were declared the winning team.

“It was wonderful to see Richmond Park Academy students working together with our local primary schools. The pupils have really enjoyed being mentored by our students and their public speaking skills have come on leaps and bounds. Congratulations to everyone that took part and, particularly, to Barnes Primary School, the overall winners. We are already looking forward to next year’s event and doing further work with our primary partners.”

Ends

For more information contact:

Lesley Kirby, Headteacher, Richmond Park Academy, Park Avenue,

London SW14 8RG, telephone: 020 8876 8891    www.richmondparkacademy.org