For the second consecutive year, Jack Hunt School has taken part in the prestigious Speaker’s Trust ‘Speak Out Challenge’, once again revealing the impressive public speaking talents of its Year 10 students. The programme, which is facilitated at Jack Hunt by Dr Jo Young, offers students a unique opportunity to develop their confidence, communication skills, and personal voice.

The journey began with an in-school workshop led by Ffion King of Speaker’s Trust. Students who initially approached the session with nerves quickly found their confidence and discovered a flair for public speaking. The workshop culminated in a school assembly final, where the finalists delivered powerful, engaging speeches in front of the entire Year 8 cohort. Topics ranged from the plight of bees and environmental sustainability to women’s struggle for recognition in sport and the value of learning from mistakes.

The judging panel, which included Mr Hemmings, faced a tough decision, while Year 8 students also played their part by casting their votes to help choose the winners.

The competition reached its climax at the Regional Final, hosted and funded by Anglia Ruskin University. Representing Jack Hunt were finalists Mati Houghton and Jimmy Molesworth. Under Dr Jo Young’s continued guidance and support, the students refined their speeches further in a dedicated workshop before taking to the stage — delivering their speeches without notes — to an audience of family, friends, teachers, Speaker’s Trust officials and local dignitaries.

The Deputy Mayor of Peterborough praised the event, remarking on the “eloquent common sense” that characterised each speech. The evening featured a wide range of themes: one student reflected on turning the pain of personal loss into purpose, another warned of the subtle control of AI, while others tackled topics such as societal defaults and the importance of inclusion.

Mati Houghton’s speech stood out for its creativity and insight. She illustrated how a seemingly trivial choice — putting milk before cereal — can have unexpected and far-reaching consequences, moving seamlessly from breakfast habits to philosophical reflection in under two minutes.

Jimmy Molesworth offered a powerful speech based on his first-hand experience of litter picking in the community. Backed by striking statistics, his message about personal responsibility and environmental action resonated strongly with the audience.

The evening also featured musical entertainment from Lekhani Kancharana, who sang with confidence and flair, and was captured in photographs by Kyra Dias, who generously gave her time to document the event.

The Leader of Peterborough City Council closed the evening by applauding all the finalists and suggesting that their articulate voices would be a welcome addition to the City Council — a powerful endorsement of the potential on display.

Reflecting on the experience, Dr Young said:
“Sitting in the audience tonight, I was reminded and reassured that the future is bright, because it is filled with talented, brave, eloquent young people, who speak common sense in a way that makes us cry, makes us nod in agreement, makes us laugh and most of all, makes us think. Congratulations, finalists of 2025!”

Thanks to Dr Young’s continued facilitation and support, the Speak Out Challenge at Jack Hunt has not only provided a platform for student voices but also underscored the power of youth to inspire change and provoke thought.

The evening left the audience with a strong sense of hope for the future — a future led by bright, brave, and eloquent young people.