On March 15th 2025, Young Speakers Scotland held the Grand Final of our Public Speaking Competition at Nicolson Square in Edinburgh.
Ten junior speakers (S1-S3) and eleven senior speakers (S4-S6) qualified for this prestigious event after impressing judges at our preliminary rounds. Speakers were given a set topic for their speech, but were free to interpret this in any way they wanted. The topic for the junior final was ‘What makes a hero?’ and the topic for the senior final was ‘The most misunderstood concept in the world.’
After a brilliant day of speeches, the judges awarded the junior trophy to Lilou D from Woodfarm High School and the senior trophy to Ben M, also from Woodfarm High School. Well done to all participants!
Ben M (middle), the senior winner of the 2024-2025 YSS Public Speaking Competition.
Eight schools were represented in the junior final: Douglas Academy, Drummond Community High School, Grove Academy, The High School of Glasgow, Kinross High School, Madras College, St Mary’s Music School and Woodfarm High School.
Nine schools were represented in the senior final: Arbroath Academy, Braidhurst High School, Falkirk High School, Fettes College, The High School of Glasgow, Invergordon Academy, Stirling High School, Tynecastle High School and Woodfarm High School.
Lilou D, the junior winner of the 2024-2025 YSS Public Speaking Competition.
It was wonderful to see such a wide range of schools represented. For many this was their first time taking part in a public speaking competition.
Judges were thoroughly impressed by the quality of speeches. Cameron Wyllie, chair judge said ‘These were clever Scottish kids, of many different ethnicities and backgrounds, doing something they liked to do, and doing it with conviction, poise and real intellectual depth.’
Courtney Dow, teacher at Braidhurst High School said ‘the standard this year was phenomenal – I could see a huge improvement from those who made the final last year’. Keira R, pupil at Braidhurst High School said ‘It was an incredible experience. I love getting to see my peers speak on things they are passionate about!’
Keira R, from Braidhurst High School, one of the senior speakers at the Public Speaking Competition.
This year’s Public Speaking Competition demonstrated the impact of YSS’s Speak Up Scotland workshop programme. Eight state schools at the Grand Final were participants in this programme, which builds confidence and critical thinking in young people through the medium of public speaking and debating.
Thank you to Nicolson Square for hosting this event, to the judges who gave up their time and provided such useful feedback to participants, and to the teachers and parents who helped their speakers prepare.
The Grand Final was held at Nicolson Square, in Edinburgh.