This year’s topic was “Road Safety – It’s Everyone’s Responsibility.” Teams had six minutes to speak, and answer a question put to them by the judges.
An audience of over 100 people watched the pupils put their points across. Invited guests included Provost Agnew, Cllr May Smillie and officers from Educational Services and Housing, Environmental & Economic Development and Road Safety colleagues from around Scotland.
Terry Lanagan, the Council’s Executive Director for Education said: “I’d like to say a huge congratulations to St Mary’s Primary. The skill of public speaking, once acquired, stays with you for life. It is a skill that gives you the edge in a multitude of situations, including at school, in social situations such as expressing your opinion to your friends, and also when you go on into further education and work. It also increases confidence and self esteem.”
“This competition helps our young people become confident individuals, responsible citizens, effective contributors and successful learners and fits in with the ethos of learning across the curriculum which is at the heart of the Curriculum for Excellence.”
Elaine Melrose, the Council’s Executive Director for Housing, Environmental & Economic Development, added: “My Road Safety Team organise this competition each year with fantastic support from our partners in the Primary Schools. This competition is important in developing skills for life and work, enabling young people to acquire the ability to speak well in public, to become powerful speakers, to grab an audience’s attention and hold its interest.”
The five runners-up teams were from St Stephen’s Primary, Clydemuir Primary, Goldenhill Primary, St Eunan’s Primary and Our Holy Redeemer’s Primary.
