What is it?
Each year, the Catenian Association organises a National Schools’ Public Speaking Competition for students aged 16 -18 attending Catholic schools.Its aim is to develop students’ public speaking and communication skills.
Catenian regions (known as Provinces) organise a competition in their Province with the winner of this event then competing in the national final held in Manchester in September .
For the last few years, a Maidenhead Circle member has organised the Province 8 event ,which has been hosted by St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School, Langley. The event is held in late February each year.
When is the next Province 8 Schools’ Public Speaking Competition?
This will be held at St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School, Langley on Monday 22nd February 2027.
Previous Province 8 Schools’ Public Speaking Competitions
2026 Event
The 2026 event was the most represented to date , with 13 students from 7 schools from across Province 8 competing. The schools taking part were :-
- Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, Reading;
- John F Kennedy Catholic School, Hemel Hempstead;
- St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School, Slough;
- St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College, Harrow;
- St Joseph’s Catholic High School, Slough;
- St. Michael’s Catholic School, Aylesbury;
- St. Michael’s Catholic High School, Watford.
The winner was Sofia Lewis of St. Michael’s Catholic High School, Watford , whose subject was Celebrity beats Talent .As Regional winner, Sofia will represent Province 8 at the National Public Speaking Final which will be held on 6 September 2026 at the Manchester Conference Centre.
One of the Watford Catenian Circle attending on the night to support was Watford Circle Catenian Denis Micallef,who is Sofia’s grand father.
Following the speeches and whilst the judges were out,deliberating, there was a presentation on the Catenian Bursary Fund, given by Catenian Eddie Piekut and Cameron Fyfe, last year’s Provincial Public Speaking winner but also someone who had received a Bursary Fund award in Summer 2025.
2025 Event
The winner of the 2025 event, held on 24th February 2025 was Cameron Fyfe of St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, Slough whose subject was “The ballot is stronger than the bullet”,There were 10 speakers from 5 different schools, namely St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School, Langley; St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, Slough; St. Michael’s Catholic High School, Watford; Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, Reading and St. Joseph’s College, Reading.
As Regional winner, Cameron will represent Province 8 at the National Public Speaking Final which will be held on 7 September 2025 at the Manchester Conference Centre.
2024 Event
The winner of the 2024 event, held at st. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School on 26th February 2024, was Zak Smith from Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, Reading .whose subject was “Things are seldom what they seem“.
2023 Event
The winner of the 2023 event, held at st. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School on 27th February 2023, was Maia Crayford from St. Joseph’s College, Reading .whose subject was “Social media constrains a Person’s Life“.