Picture the scene: you stand up from behind a desk, next to you are your peers looking on expectantly, in front of you a panel of judges waiting impassively.

Behind them are your friends and family, smiling earnestly and supportively; in the same audience are your peers; students from other schools.

Some of them will know the pressure you are under for they will have recently experienced it for themselves; others will wonder what it will be like for them; all of them are wondering how you will do.

So, you take a deep breath and move around to the front of the stage.

All of a sudden, the room feels a little warmer and the audience a little more intimidating. You scrutinise the expressions on the judges' faces, but nothing is given away.

In the back of your mind somewhere is the speech you've been practicing; you wonder if you will remember it all. But there is no time for hesitation - it's now or never - so you take a deep breath and begin…

Public speaking is a real skill. It comes with its own unique set of pressures and expectations.

Its place within the classroom is vital as it links to virtually every job that awaits children when they leave school.

Daily, students the length and breadth of the country are challenged to communicate in a public environment. Within this daily educational experience exists the opportunity for some students to test themselves further. The scene described above paints a picture of the pressures associated with one of the country's premier Public Speaking Competitions: Youth Speaks.

It offers those students taking part a chance to develop and demonstrate their skillset in a challenging environment. To excel within such a storied competition requires those involved to be truly exceptional orators.

Enter the Kenilworth School Intermediate 2024 Youth Speaks Team. Comprised of Olivia Harold, Oliver Rushton and Ayaan Carvalho, all of whom attend Year 9 at Kenilworth School and Sixth Form.

The intrepid trio have navigated their way to the National Final of the Youth Speaks competition, set to take place in Norwich on April 21.

To get here, they had to navigate several increasingly challenging rounds which saw them competing with the best that that Coventry, Warwickshire and the Midlands had to offer. Now, they can truly number themselves amongst the best public speakers in the country.

It started early for the group; initially, they competed within an internal school tournament. Here, Oliver and Olivia made good use of the experience they had in the 2023 Youth Speaks event – they were part of a team had made it to the District Final and finished a close second.

Kenilworth KS3 Debate Teams sweep the field at the Intermediate Regional Youth Speaks Final (imagfe supplied)

Olivia earned herself the position of proposer, whilst Oliver won the right to stand in opposition.

Ayaan was selected as being the third member of the team and given the role of Chair. The three of them, along with a group of year 7 students selected to run as a second team in the Youth Speaks event, decided to focus on the relevance of Ofsted. Clearly, the group were influenced by the Ofsted inspection Kenilworth School had been subjected to recently.

They prepared themselves over the early part of the Spring term. All of them practiced and practiced, working on their synergy and delivery. One of the things that was clearly evident from the previous year's event was the need to deliver a memorable performance. They did not disappoint.

At the regional event, set at Bablake School in Coventry, Kenilworth School came first and second. Olivia, Oliver, and Ayaan were crowned victors, whilst their year 7 counterparts came a worthy second – these younger orators will undoubtedly be back to compete in the 2025 tournament next year. This was a special moment for the school.

Then came the district event at Campion School in Leamington Spa. Here was the hurdle where Olivia and Oliver had fallen previously. History did not repeat itself. Kenilworth School were crowned victors once again.

The quality of the opposition here was immense, and for Olivia, Oliver, and Ayaan to have beaten so many worthy opponents was truly remarkable.

What made it all the more special was the manner in which the three of them interacted with their peers afterwards. Friends were clearly made on this day, and the trio advanced into the next round with their heads held high.

Seeking to prepare them for this next event, the three of them were required to perform and field questions from the Year 13 students at Kenilworth School. All of them delivered a performance filled with confidence and all of them were able to field questions from their older peers. This was a tough crowd to impress but impress they did.

To Staffordshire they went…

This was new. The journey to Weston Road Academy itself was a story in its own right for each of the young speakers.

Here, they were competing against the best in the region. The winner would earn the right to represent the Midlands area itself; you could cut the atmosphere with a knife.

Ignoring this, Olivia, Oliver and Ayaan ran through their routine. They practiced and practiced again, using the time before the event itself to hone their delivery for another performance.

Performance complete, the young speakers sat to watch the senior competition play out. Afterwards, many of the teachers from the other schools approached the Kenilworth students to applaud them for their efforts. Clearly, they had made an impression on those watching. Their victory was well earned.

And so, to Norwich. At this point, Olivia, Oliver and Ayaan feel like a well-honed public speaking machine. They don't just stand and deliver; they own the stage on which they have been asked to speak. When answering the judge's questions, they do so readily and with a confidence and knowledge of Ofsted that speaks volumes as to their engagement with an immensely complex topic.

Now there is but one question; can they go all the way and win the National Final?