ESU Public Speaking Competition: A Parent Guide

ESU Public Speaking Competition: A Parent Guide

Editorial overview

The ESU Public Speaking Competition comes from the English-Speaking Union, an educational charity founded in 1918 by Sir Evelyn Wrench with a long-standing mission of improving communication and understanding across cultures and countries. The ESU’s work now includes school competitions, oracy resources, teacher development and international exchange. That institutional background explains why this competition places so much emphasis on listening, cooperation and constructive dialogue rather than treating public speaking as performance alone.

For students aged 13–16 in Years 9–11, the competition is one of the largest school public-speaking programmes in England and Wales. The format is distinctive: each team includes a speaker, a questioner and a chairperson, and students from different schools can be paired in the roles. The ESU describes the competition as involving more than 300 teams, while its 2026 national final followed more than 90 heats and involved over 1,500 young people. Those figures help explain its significance: students are practising oracy in a real social setting, not just delivering a speech to a familiar classroom.

The competition also has a meaningful progression route. The Best Speaker from the England and Wales competition may represent the country at the ESU’s International Public Speaking Competition, where national winners from around the world meet in London. ESU has described former participants going on to careers in international relations, and the organisation’s judges and educators repeatedly frame the experience around confidence, critical thinking and the ability to engage with difficult public issues.

We rate the ESU Public Speaking Competition at Intermediate Level. The school-based entry route and accessible age range make it a realistic starting point, but the combination of topic choice, timing, teamwork, questioning and live response requires more than confident delivery. It is especially useful for students considering law, politics, humanities, business, media or leadership, and for students whose next step is not simply “speak louder” but learn to think more clearly in front of other people.

What is the ESU Public Speaking Competition?

The ESU Public Speaking Competition is aimed at secondary school students, with the current CompeteMap record listing it for Years 9-11 / ages 13-16. It is designed to develop formal speaking and listening skills in a competitive but educational format.

Unlike a solo speech contest, school public speaking competitions often involve roles and teamwork. Students may need to present, chair, question or respond, depending on the format used. This helps them understand public speaking as a complete communication process, not just a memorised performance.

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Why is it valuable?

Public speaking is useful in almost every academic and professional pathway. Students who learn to speak clearly often become better at interviews, presentations, leadership roles and even essay writing because they learn how to structure ideas for an audience.

The competition develops:

For a student portfolio, public speaking can be especially useful when the student reflects on growth: what topic they chose, how they improved, what feedback changed their approach, and how they handled questions.

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Who should enter?

This competition suits students who:

• enjoy explaining ideas
• want to improve confidence
• are interested in leadership or advocacy
• like English, politics, history, business, law, philosophy or media
• want to become more comfortable in interviews
• are willing to practise timing and delivery

It is also useful for students who are not naturally confident. Public speaking is not a personality trait; it is a skill. A thoughtful student with good preparation can do very well.

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How does registration work?

The current CompeteMap record lists the competition as school-only registration. Parents should usually contact:

• the English department
• the debating or public speaking club
• the head of year
• the enrichment or co-curricular lead

Ask whether the school plans to enter, how teams are selected, and whether students can express interest before the internal deadline.

Because schools may need to register teams and organise practice, it is sensible to ask early rather than waiting until the official deadline is close.

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What makes a strong public speaking entry?

A strong speech is not the longest speech or the most dramatic speech. It is the speech the audience can follow, remember and believe.

Students should aim for:

• a clear central message
• a topic that genuinely interests them
• a strong opening
• two or three well-developed points
• examples that are specific rather than vague
• a conclusion that leaves the audience with something to think about
• controlled delivery
• confident handling of questions

The best speeches often feel simple on the surface because the thinking underneath is well organised.

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How should students prepare?

1. Choose a topic with a real point of view

A good public speaking topic is not just a subject; it has a position. "Social media" is too broad. "Schools should teach students how algorithms shape what they see online" is much stronger.

Students should ask:

• What do I want the audience to understand?
• Why does this topic matter now?
• What is my strongest example?
• What might someone disagree with?

2. Build a clear structure

A useful beginner structure is:

1. Hook the audience.
2. State the main idea.
3. Develop point one.
4. Develop point two.
5. Address a challenge or alternative view.
6. End with a memorable conclusion.

Students should avoid trying to include everything they know. Public speaking rewards selection.

3. Practise timing

Timing is not a minor detail. A speech that overruns usually feels underprepared. Students should practise with a timer and learn where to slow down, where to pause, and where to cut.

4. Prepare for questions

Question handling often reveals whether the student truly understands the topic. Parents can help by asking:

• Why do you think that?
• What would someone on the other side say?
• Can you give an example?
• What is the biggest weakness in your argument?
• What should happen next?

Students should practise answering briefly and directly.

5. Record and review

Video recording can feel awkward, but it is one of the fastest ways to improve. Students can check:

• pace
• eye contact
• filler words
• posture
• whether the speech sounds natural
• whether key points are clear

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Useful resources

Helpful preparation sources include:

• ESU guidance and competition information
• school public speaking or debating club resources
• TED-Ed and reputable public speaking examples
• books on rhetoric, communication and argument
• reliable news explainers for topical speeches
• practice in assemblies, class presentations or club sessions

Students should not copy famous speeches. They should study what makes them effective: rhythm, clarity, examples and audience connection.

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Common mistakes

Students often:

• choose a topic that is too broad
• memorise word-for-word and panic if they forget a line
• speak too quickly
• use too many statistics without explaining meaning
• end weakly
• avoid eye contact
• answer questions defensively

A strong speech sounds prepared but alive. It should not feel like reading an essay aloud.

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How does it compare with debating?

Public speaking and debating overlap, but they are not the same.

Students who enjoy this competition may later try ESU Schools' Mace, Model United Nations, essay competitions, leadership programmes or media-related activities.

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Key Takeaways

ESU Public Speaking Competition: A Parent Guide is best understood as an intermediate-level opportunity with moderate skill demand, a competition-specific entry route and preparation that depends on the student's starting point. The ESU Public Speaking Competition is a strong option for students aged 13-16 who want to build formal speaking, listening and presentation skills. Entry is usually through schools, so parents should ask early whether the school is registering teams and how internal selection will work. Students need more than a confident voice: strong entries combine topic choice, structure, audience awareness, timing, teamwork and response to questions. Preparation should include speech planning, repeated timed practice, feedback, question handling and careful attention to clarity rather than memorised perfection. This competition is especially useful for students interested in leadership, humanities, law, politics, business, media or any pathway where.

Final thoughts

The ESU Public Speaking Competition is a practical, confidence-building opportunity. Even if a student does not reach later rounds, the preparation itself can make classroom presentations, interviews and future leadership roles feel less intimidating.