Pupils Compete For Place in National Speaking Competition Final

Four S3 pupils from Nairn Academy and Kilchimen Academy in Fort Augustus will be discussing the diversity of Europe as they take part in the North Scotland heat of a national speaking competition.

On Friday 25 April, Sean Wilson and Ryan Wilson from Nairn along with Jenny Grey and Alasdair MacLellan from Kilchimen Academy will be battling it out with pupils from Moray for a place in the national final which will be held in Edinburgh on 26 May.  The prize for the overall winning team is an all-expenses paid trip to Brussels in September to visit the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European School.

All of the participating teams were asked to choose a European Union member state and to speak about one of three themes relating to that country.  Both the Highland teams have chosen the countries of Scotland and Poland and will select one of the following three themes: Being a migrant; Being a member of a religious minority; Being a member of a minority community.

The heat will take place at Millburn Academy in Inverness at 10am.  All the teams will bring with them support from each of their schools. 

The chairman of the Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee, Councillor Bill Fernie said:  “The Diversity of Europe is a wide-ranging topic so the young people taking part should have plenty to talk about.  The competition is a great way of not only researching customs and cultures of our European neighbours but it also promotes the importance of been able to communicate well and teaches a wide range of different skills which will be of benefit to the young students for the rest of their lives.  Teams from 10 local authorities across the whole of Scotland are taking part so I wish our two Highland teams the best of luck.”