Semi Finals, Heat 1 – Monday 11 February 2019

“Well done Mulberry!” Next step: the finals at the Old Bailey.

“Well done Mulberry!” Next step: the finals at the Old Bailey.

The Company’s two schools Rokeby Newham and Mulberry Academy Shoreditch, having been coached/mentored by members of the Company, both took part in the first heat of the 2019 Challenge, which is a speaking/debating competition. There were eight schools taking part and there was stiff competition with each of the competing schools fielding a strong team, all of whom were well researched and well-rehearsed.

Rokeby were unfortunate in that one of their presenters was unable to attend, but the remainder of the team reassigned his part and put up a great presentation, with an approach that included a mobile phone call which amused the audience.

Mulberry Academy Shoreditch (“MAS”) had drawn to present last and looked nervous as they waited for the judges to say they could start. They then launched into their presentation as if they owned the place. They even managed to deliver a couple of funny lines, and get a laugh!

We all waited for what seemed an age while the judges deliberated and when the head judge returned he commented on the very high standard of all of the presentations and congratulated all who had taken part. He mentioned that it is always hard to have to present last and we expected a “but”. He continued to talk about MAS and mentioned their concentration, their presentation skills, and the quality of the research evidenced in the submitted project plan, and we still expected a “but”.

When he said that Mulberry Academy Shoreditch were the winners of the first heat and the other competitors applauded, we were all, including the team, stunned into silence; despite the lads having been telling me all day that they were going to win!

Staff from other presenters congratulated the team and agreed that the result was well deserved.

Edward Nicholl
Senior Warden