BOW SCHOOL SPEAKS OUT IN STYLE
Thursday 26th April 2012 was a very special evening in Bow School. Following a number of public speaking workshops delivered by the Jack Petchey Foundation to Year 10 and a very competitive in school heat, the three young men representing Bow at the Tower Hamlets Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge Final had been chosen and were ready to take to the stage. It was no easy task. Each student had to write and deliver (without notes) a three minute speech on any subject, in front of a large audience, but the three Bow students, Azim Khan, Kiesse Andre and Ibrahim Begh, made it look like a piece of cake. They dominated the stage using humour, anecdotes and statistics to make their audience question, reflect and, on many occasions, laugh out loud. The boys’ performances were, quite simply, breathtaking. Kiesse’s inspirational speech encouraged everyone in the audience to strive for success and not to forget him when they got there, whilst Azim asked us to think about the big picture and search for truth. Finally Ibrahim told of his journey from silent spectator to centre stage speaker. For the large number of Bow staff and students who came to support, these performances, along with those from other Tower Hamlets’ students were both memorable and inspirational and the hall echoed with the sound of their loud applause and cheers. The standard of speakers was exceptionally high and the judges clearly had a difficult job on their hands. Even during the judging, the audience was entertained with music played by Bow students Partha Dey, Jamie Burnett, Kadeem Ramsey and Jacob Lajolie.
The Activities Hall erupted into cheers when a Bow School winner was announced: Ibrahim Begh, with Aminah Begum from Morpeth School and Maisha Begum from Swanlea School being placed second and third respectively. As well as now being given the opportunity to visit the House of Lords and Cambridge University, Ibrahim will now have to wait patiently until the end of May to find out whether he is to compete in the National Final of the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge.
The Tower Hamlets Speak Out Challenge Final really was a night to remember and it highlighted one of the many things that Bow does so well: giving its students the opportunity to participate in activities which will increase their confidence and develop them as well rounded individuals prepared to go into the word and SPEAK OUT!
