West Brom student among finalists for annual oracy competition

Gresham College has announced the finalists for its third annual Young Orator of the Year Competition. The Gresham Competition, which began in 2023, showcases the communication skills of state school students in Year 12 (England and Wales), S5 (Scotland), and Year 13 (Northern Ireland). The event emphasises Gresham College’s dedication to promoting oracy skills and the importance of effective public speaking among young learners.

The 12 finalists from around the UK will deliver their prepared answers to one of Gresham College’s pre-set questions to a panel in London. The questions cover a broad range of subject areas, including STEM and the Humanities, encouraging young people to engage critically with academic research and contemporary issues.

Marwaa Rehman from George Salter Academy in West Bromwich is among the 12 shortlisted in the competition. Eva was selected for her presentation on the topic of excessive wealth, while Isabelle explored the impact of evolving social media platforms on communication, relationships, and identity.

Marwaa Rehman from George Salter Academy said: "Good speaking skills will help me in school with discussions and presentations. Later in life, they’ll be crucial for teamwork, leadership, and generally expressing myself effectively.

"This competition shows that young voices are now seen as important for offering fresh perspectives and re-evaluating history. It proves young people are active thinkers whose opinions matter."

The finalists for the 2025 competition are as follows:

Gresham College, the first institute of Higher Education in London, has been providing free public education across the arts and sciences since 1597 and is also a registered charity in England and Wales. Through this competition, they aim to showcase the importance of oracy competence and the art of communicating.

Before this stage of the competition, students from all over the UK submitted five-minute presentations on assigned topics, aiming to demonstrate their oratory abilities and engage with academic research. The competition places emphasis on verbal communication, but visual aids such as images, graphs, and slides may be incorporated to support arguments.

The questions were posed by Gresham College.

The questions being answered by pupils (16-17 years old):

1. Pick an historical figure whose influence, story or achievements you feel have been either over-valued or under-valued. Argue why this should be redressed

2. Aside from social media, what in your view is the most important positive – or negative – invention of the 21st century, and why?

3. How much is too much wealth?

4. Aside from English and Maths, which subject(s) should be compulsory at school and why?

5. Which book should we all read and why? (this can include both fiction and non-fiction)

6. How do you think the evolution of social media platforms has impacted (either negatively or positively) the way you communicate, build relationships, and express your identity?

The chosen finalists will now compete for significant prizes to support their educational journey. The Gold Award winner will be awarded £1,000, with their school receiving £500. The Silver Award winner will receive £700, with £300 for their school, and the Bronze Award winner will receive £500, with £200 awarded to their school. All other finalists will also receive a prize in recognition of their achievement, a new initiative for this year's competition.

The final will take place on 2 July 2025, at Gresham College, where finalists will present live before a panel of judges and audience of friends and family. The shortlisted finalists have also been invited to London for a presentation skills workshop on 7 June 2025.

The esteemed panel of judges of the event are as follows:

• Professor Sarah Hart – Acting Provost of Gresham College and Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Birkbeck, University of London

• Professor Melissa Lane – Gresham Professor of Rhetoric and internationally recognised scholar of political thought

• Dr Mike Sulu – Lecturer in Biochemical Engineering at UCL and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

• Sara Yorath – Historian of 19th-century death and grief, and Chair of the London Museums of Health and Medicine

• Aaya El Sidani – 2024 Gresham Oracy Finalist and A-Level student at Bishopshalt School

• Rando Howard – Managing Director at Hueck Industrie Holding and former solicitor with expertise in construction litigation

Master of Ceremonies:

• Professor Victoria Baines – IT Livery Company Professor of Information Technology at Gresham College and global expert on digital trust and cybersecurity

Professor Sarah Hart, Acting Provost, at Gresham College, says: "We’re delighted to reveal the finalists for the 2025 Gresham Oracy Competition. This annual event gives students a unique opportunity to develop their oracy skills while engaging with thought-provoking academic topics that expand their understanding and spark curiosity ahead of their next steps in education. We were impressed by the quality of this year’s entries and can’t wait to see the finalists present in July."