Basildon Academy played host to an inspirational evening of speeches for the Essex regional final of the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge.

Taking first place was 14-year old Bernice Bushnell from St John Payne Catholic School in Chelmsford, with Wickford schoolgirl Erin Cooney, 14, from Beauchamps High School coming in third.

More than 520 Year 10 students in Essex schools received a one-day public speaking workshop, giving them the skills to deliver a competition speech on a topic close to them.

Topics of speeches on the night ranged from feminism to anorexia to loving playing X-box.

The event, held on April 19, was attended by Mayor of Basildon David Harrison and MP for South Basildon Stephen Metcalfe.

The Mayor described how the night was full of inspirational young people talking about important issues: “The standard was so high, it was unbelievable.

“Some of the speeches were better than what you’d expect to hear in the House of Commons.

“All the councillors from Basildon should have come to learn from these kids just how much can be said it three minutes.

“We should all be listening to young people. They’re the future.”

The challenge, in partnership with The Speakers Trust, is the world’s largest youth speaking event, with over 19,000 students in London and Essex taking part.