JBH Speech Competition: Two Weeks to Go!

It’s just two weeks until the 2025 JBH Speech Competition and our five contestants are excited by the prospect of participating in the greatest public speaking challenge of their lives!

The JBH combines prepared speeches on contentious subjects, animated heckles from the floor and spontaneous arguments from the speakers, into an intellectually exuberant evening. The winner is the contestant who delivers the best argument, demonstrates adept handling of hecklers and manages not be diverted, completing their delivery with aplomb. You are welcome to watch the JBH video to get a feeling for the excitement surrounding the event or read the story from last year.

This year we have five speakers taking part offering a broad selection of topics:

• Taylor: Young people under the age of 25 should not be allowed to make permanent decisions to transition their gender
• Annabel: Childhood should be institutionalised
• Harry: Performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) should be legalised in sports.
• Eva: Stop having children
• Maiya: Stop funding anti-racist campaigns

Annabel (Year 11) is thrilled to be taking part, saying: “I’ve wanted to take part in the JBH someday ever since I started debating in Year 7 because I think it’s a unique and invaluable opportunity to engage with a controversial topic. I’m so excited to have been chosen for the final competition and can’t wait to debate on the 26th!”

Fellow contestant, Taylor (Lower Sixth) enthused, “I am very excited and content that I got into this prestigious competition allowing me to further develop my public speaking and debating skills. I have wanted to take part because I have been watching the competition every year since I joined the school and it’s very fascinating. I am very lucky to have the opportunity to have a go myself!”

Maiya (Lower Sixth) agreed, commenting: “I chose to take part in the JBH competition because I’ve really enjoyed watching the previous competitions over the years and I think taking part in it is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding things that I can do. I mainly feel scared now that I’m a contestant because the heckling portion looks really challenging. However, I am really excited to get a chance to speak in front of an audience.”

All members of the Leighton Park community are warmly welcomed to join us in Main Hall on Wednesday 26^th November at 7.00pm for the 2025 competition.