A teenager from Bexley Grammar School has managed to wow judges and secure his place in the semi-finals of a major national public speaking competition in May.

St Catherine’s Roman Catholic School in Bexleyheath hosted the Bexley Regional Final of the Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge, an event in collaboration with the Speakers Trust, from which God’s Favour Oluwanusin was crowned the Regional Champion.

The “Speak Out” Challenge! offers all state schools in London and Essex the opportunity to train Year 10 students in the art of public speaking.

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Through a knock out process the best speakers are identified to go on to an inter-school competition for the chance to be Regional Champion.

The “Speak Out” Challenge! is the largest youth speaking event in the world, in which around 18,000 teenagers are trained every year in over 550 schools.

Mr Oluwanusin was awarded his prize by Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, who was in attendance on the night.

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Sir David commented: "I am pleased to be able attend and present the awards at the Bexley final of the Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge, and to be able speak myself.

"All contributions from the participants were of a very high calibre. They were very impressive, confident and covered a wide-range of interesting issues.

"Congratulations to God’s Favour on being crowned the winner and I wish him luck at the semi-finals and hopefully the final as well."

At the end of May, 15 Regional Champions will be selected at the Semi Final to compete at the Grand Final and in July the 15 Grand Finalists will speak on a stage to an audience of over 1,000 people.