Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Study and revision help

Current students

Public speaking and debating

Public Speaking Protocol

1. Start of term.

House Officials remind pupils about competition, encourage entry, invite external judge if possible, purchase 4 book tokens (+ 1 in case of special additional prize) by arrangement with Finance Office.

Form tutors and English teachers identify possible competitors and encourage to enter.

2. Week 1.

House Officials obtain guidelines for speakers from school intranet and distribute.

Potential speakers prepare speeches.

3. Week 2.

Speakers rehearse speeches in form time and/or English lessons.

House Officials obtain guidelines for Chair and Questioner from school intranet and distribute.

By end of week, class / year team membership finalised.

4. Weeks 3 and 4.

House heats - by end, the House team membership finalised. (Members can be taken from different years). One member of staff for each House should take overall responsibility for judging, co-opt other members of House staff as necessary and obtain judging guidelines from Head of English. A member of English staff can be co-opted to the House to help with judging and preparation if desired by arrangement with Head of English and English teacher concerned. Runners-up also identified as possible "entertainment" on the day - details to Head of House Events.

5. Week 5.

Team chosen practises, refines speech, transfers speech to small palm cards if necessary, ensures it meets time deadlines.

House officials appoint timekeeper (who needs bell and stopwatch), and arrange for duty tutor group to set up Hall or Gym. Head of House events publicises times and arrangements for classes on bulletin. (Normally Years 7, 8 & 9 for Junior event, 9, 10, 11 and Sixth Form for Senior). Sixth form absence might allow for an extra year to be fitted into Hall. Any staff who need cover to submit slips to Mary Heseltine.

6. Day before.

Head of House Events meets chairs to ballot for running order and to link Questioner with Speaker; clears Room 26 for judging; then ensures running order is submitted to Office for typing. Copies to SMT, House Officials and Head of English. Head of English ensures marksheets and instructions are distributed to judges. Running time is usually between 75 and 90 minutes.

7. On day.

Hall is set up by duty tutor group: table on stage, 3 chairs, water and 12 plastic cups; 2 tables in well of Hall towards front; chair(s) and cup(s) of water; place for timekeeper, bell and stopwatch.

Head of House Events ensures microphones are on and tested. Appoints House Official to purchase flowers if female external judge is used (receipt to Finance Office).

House Officials introduce event, encourage pupils to submit questions, explain running order.

Staff escort pupils down from lessons and supervise.

"Leg stretching" time allowed as well as (preferably) two speeches purely for entertainment.

8. Week after.

Prizes distributed in relevant assembly.

Newsletter Prefect prepares short note for Newsletter.

English staff or member of House staff dealing with Public Speaking feeds back as necessary to competitors.

Head of House Events meets with House Officials and Head of English to review and if necessary modify arrangements.