Do Cornish Piskies exist? Pupils have their say at Youth Speaks competition in Helston

Organised by the Rotary Club of Cober Valley for the fourth year, the event took place at Godolphin School.

Seven teams competed from Garras, Godolphin, St Michael’s and Nansloe primary schools, with some entering more than one team.

It was the first time that Garras and Nansloe Schools had entered the competition, to great success.

Each team consisted of three competitors: a chairperson, the main speaker and the proposer of the vote of thanks, with teams able to speak on any topic of their choice.

Host Hilary Young from Cober Valley Rotary Club said that it was important to encourage children into public speaking, since it helped to increase confidence and self esteem.

Judge Helen McFarlane said she was impressed at the high standard of speaking from all the teams and the amount of research that had gone into their chosen subjects.

The judges had a difficult decision to make in selecting the two winning teams, which were eventually decided as Luke Bennett, Abigail Hole and Lilly Didlick from Nansloe Academy team one, whose topic was “To read or not to read, that is the question” and Joseph Neal, Cam McCready and Lewis Bennetts from Godolphin School team two, who debated “Are there unnecessary ingredients in fast food?”

A trophy was presented to the two winning teams and each competitor was given a medal and certificate for their efforts.

Pupils, teachers and parents were thanked for all the hard work they had put into the event.

Godolphin School was also thanked for hosting the event as well as its parent teacher association for providing refreshments.