Stage 3 Oracy Showcase Celebrates Student Voices for a Third Year

The power of student voice took centre stage once again at the Stage 3 Oracy Showcase, where the finalists delivered powerful, passionate, and polished speeches that left the audience inspired.

Now in its third year, the event continues to grow in impact, reinforcing the Primary School’s commitment to oral language and communication as a vital foundation for learning, leadership, and future success. Driven by a focus on developing oracy skills that support collaboration, critical thinking, and personal expression, the event empowers the girls to use their voices to influence, inform, and spark ideas for positive action. As quoted in Annabel Ling’s speech on gender equity, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, ultimately, we want the girls at SCEGGS, “…to be the change [they] wish to see in the world.”

The theme of the Stage 3 Oracy Showcase invites the girls to explore What Matters?  a provocation that always prompts an incredible range of topics from the global to the personal, from urgent problems to quiet but powerful ideas.

After an engaging morning of speeches, the overall winner was awarded to Klemintine Chylek (Year 6) whose topic was both refreshingly unexpected and a great reminder as the girls headed into the holiday break, Why Boredom Matters. Klemintine challenged the audience to rethink how they view boredom not as a problem to solve, but as an opportunity for creativity and self-discovery.

The Highly Commended award was shared by two outstanding finalists. Annabel Ling (Year 6) spoke passionately on gender equity, highlighting the persistent barriers still faced by women and girls and calling for action and awareness from all. The second speech, delivered by Eva Geha  (Year 6), offered a poignant reflection on why doing nothing sometimes matters most.

Throughout the event, all eight finalists demonstrated the three pillars of effective presentational talk: manner (voice projection, expression, and stance), matter (balancing emotion and evidence), and method (organising a compelling, cohesive message). These pillars were used by the judges to select the winner and highly commended.

Everyone at the event was visibly impressed by the confidence and authenticity of each speaker. As Alice Chandler, a host of the event, reminded the audience, “At SCEGGS, we believe every voice matters.” This belief was certainly embodied in the day’s presentations.

A special thank you was extended to the teachers, Ms Ryan, Ms Jaekel, Ms Ward, Ms Schwartz, Ms Gloor and Ms Tennant, who supported the girls’ oracy development throughout the term, and to Ms Walsh and our Senior judges, Celia Watson (Year 12), Jessica Gallie (Year 10) and Amelia Wilcsek (Year 10), whose careful consideration helped make the day a success.

As the event concluded, there was a clear sense that this third year of the Stage 3 Oracy Showcase had once again achieved its mission: giving the girls the tools, and the stage, to say something that matters.

Congratulations to all our finalists:

Congratulations also to our wonderful hosts for the event, Alice Chandler and Rose Johnston in Year 5 and Dasha Jolley and Minttu Guss in Year 6.

Kristy Williams
Acting Curriculum Coordinator