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News and views

Three schoolgirls sat at a table, discussing their work

‘I want to do it again next year.’ How three students at English Martyrs’ Catholic School, Leicester, caught the bug for public speaking

We spoke to three students and their teacher from English Martyrs’ Catholic School to find out why they'd recommend taking part in ESU competitions

St Joseph’s College, Ipswich takes victory at ESU Schools’ Mace Debating Competition 2026

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

 School boy talking passionately with hand on chest at ESU competition

Ten tips for public speaking success

Our competition judges share their winning strategies ahead of the Public Speaking Competition grand final

English-Speaking Union Morocco announces grand relaunch

And the search is on for the nation's best young public speakers

 Woman with a certificate standing with a man to her left and a woman to her right

More than a competition: My IPSC week in London

ESU alumna Ugne Žirgute tells us how one week at the ESU International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC) in London turned competitors from 40 different countries into lifelong friends

‘It’s a great opportunity for our students to grow in confidence, learn from other people and then get out there and do it for themselves’

Find out more about a Discover Your Voice session at Harlington Upper School in Central Bedfordshire

‘Debating is a tool for how you actually live in the real world’

Tim Schmalz, Head of History and debating lead at Radley College, twice winners of the ESU Schools’ Mace debating competition, tells us the secrets of his teams’ success, and why debating is such a useful skill to have

 Young lady with dark hair speaking passionately, surrounded by her two teammates

Ten tips for debating success

Our competition judges spill the beans on winning strategies for the ESU Schools’ Mace debating competition

My experience as a Walter Page Hines scholar

Lisa Reynolds reflects on her experience as a recipient of the ESU’s Walter Page Hines Scholarship, exploring how innovative assistive technologies and AI are supporting communication and learning for young people with vision impairment in the United States
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