SCHOOLS battled it out at a public speaking competition by performing and entertaining audiences on a specific topic of interest.

Luckley House School hosted the Youth Speaks competition organised by Rotary Club of Easthampstead where teams of six local schools took part.

Sandhurst School was the winning team in both the Intermediate and Senior competitions. Luckley House School, Wellington College, Holme Grange School, Yately Manor School and Garth Hill College also took part.

Enid Halliwell, head judge said: "Whilst there can only be one winning team in each section, you are all winners, because many of the parents and adults in the room could not do what you have done."

Competitors had to challenge their public speaking skills, perform, persuade and entertain the audience using a display of wit and knowledge of a topic.

The speeches covered a wide range of topics including, 'The Role of women in engineering', 'The problem of plastic pollution', 'We are the digital native', 'GCSEs Does one size fit all? and 'Single Sex Schools - should they exist?'.

Enid added: "Many parents and adults in the room could not do what you have done. Public speaking is a learnable skill and you have demonstrated that you are well on the way to mastering it. Being able to speak in public will hold you in goo stead as you journey through life. Well done."