Schools Public Speaking

The Youth Public Speaking competition is offered to each of the local secondary schools who put forward a speaker for each year group between years 8 and 10. These young people, choose a topic important to them and then write and perform a speech about their chosen subject. The event is usually held at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester and the audience is made up of participants, their parents, teachers, Rotarians and invited guests.

All participants receive a certificate of participation and the most ear and eye-catching speech (Judging Criteria: Clarity, Content, and Charisma) is awarded the Fred Perkin Cup.

The Cirencester Rotary Annual Schools Public Speaking Showcase Event
was held at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), Parkinson Theatre, Cirencester, GL7 6JS
on Tuesday 9^th June 2026 (5:30pm arrival – 6:15pm Start – 8pm-ish Finish)

Participating Schools were:
Kingshill School (Cirencester), Deer Park School (Cirencester), Farmor’s School (Fairford), and Sir William Romney’s School (Tetbury). The winners and pictures are below.

The 2026 winner of the Fred Perkins Cup is Toby who is in Year 9 at Farmor’s School.

The 2026 participants and their subject choice are as follows:

Sir William Romney’s School:
Elizabeth N – The Power of a Musical Tune
Iska R – The Small Things in Life
Sana A – Climate Change, is Time Running Out?

Cirencester Kingshill School:
Anabelle N – Was Light Yagami Justified in Death Note?
Josie E – The Consequences of Fast Fashion Consumption
Mille F – What is Climate Change and What Can We Do to Fix It?

Cirencester Deer Park School:
Abi D – Sexism as a Problem in Modern Society
Emme A – Do Dreams Have Hidden Meanings?
Sachin M – Does Cancel Culture Help Society Progress or Does it Silence Free Speech?

Farmor’s School:
Cairen G – Adaption or Mitigation; Which is the Best Response for Climate Change?
Eloise H – Should Sex Work be Legalised in the UK?
Toby N – Are Smartphones Destroying a Generation?