Victoria College and Haute Vallée School have been named joint winners of the States Assembly’s ‘Mark My Words’ oracy competition.
The schools shared the top prize following the competition final in the States Chamber, where 49 Year 8 students from seven secondary schools delivered speeches and questioned one another.
Victoria College student Jayden Ochieng was named the individual winner for the best speech.
The finalists had been challenged to deliver speeches on conflict, sustainability and social responsibility, before facing questions from students representing the other schools.
The competition brought together students from Beaulieu, Grainville, Haute Vallée, Jersey College for Girls, Les Quennevais, Le Rocquier and Victoria College.
The judging panel consisted of Deputy Victoria Li and Jersey’s Oracy Development Lead, Andrew Willis.
The joint winners will share a £500 prize to spend on resources for their schools, as well as receiving the Mark My Words Shield.
Pip Oliver, education manager at the States Greffe, said the competition was created to build on public speaking skills developed by pupils earlier in their education.
“We created Mark My Words to give Year 8 students the opportunity to build on the oracy skills they developed through the Year 6 primary school initiative ‘Speak up, speak out’,” she said.
“It also enhances students’ knowledge and understanding of Jersey’s political system.”
Ms Oliver congratulated the students who took part, saying: “We’re grateful to all the schools who took part in the competition, and particularly to the students who came to the States Chamber to deliver their speeches, and answer their peers’ questions.”
Deputy Li, who judged the competition, said the students had demonstrated significant preparation and confidence during the final.
“It’s a real privilege to take on the role of competition judge and to hear students’ views shared in this way,” she said.
“It was clear that all participants put in a lot of hard work to research and craft their speeches and this preparation shone through in their confident delivery in the States Chamber.”
She also praised the students’ questioning, saying the opposing teams had “interrogated brilliantly with thoughtful questions” which showed their “active listening and ability to challenge ideas on the spot.”
“All the participating students should be very proud of their efforts,” she said.
Launched in 2025, Mark My Words is designed to encourage persuasive communication and critical thinking.
As part of the competition, schools deliver a three-week unit focused on public speaking in a political context, using teaching resources created by the States Greffe.
Students are then tasked with creating a speech of up to three minutes calling for local change, with finalists from each school progressing to the inter-school competition in the States Chamber.
