Winning Student Heads for Westminster
Olivia Masding, a Sixth Form student at St Edward’s School, competes for Dorset in ‘The Great Debate’ at the Houses of Parliament in March 2018.
Olivia Masding with judges Samantha Hurrell and Dr Kate Murphy
The Great Debate is a national public speaking competition run annually by the Historical Association.
The Dorset heats took place at St Edward’s School, Poole, where students had just five minutes to deliver an argument using historical details and context to persuade the audience.
Olivia’s winning speech covered the contribution of working class women of Poole in the local cordite factories during the First World War.
The standard of all the competitors from St Edward’s, Parkstone Grammar, Poole Grammar and Twynham was extremely high, as noted in high praise from the judges.
Olivia said “The experience was nerve wracking but worth it, as I now feel more confident in public speaking. I have to thank Mrs Sinaguglia, in the History department, for all her help and support. She never let me forget that I could do it, and I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Olivia is now honing her public speaking skills and knowledge of history as she prepares for the final debate at the Houses of Parliament on 10 March 2018.
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