Estela Joseph, a Year 10 student at Wallington High School for Girls, was crowned winner of the regional final of the Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out Challenge”.
The regional final took place at Wallington High School for Girls on March 3, 2025.
More than 30,000 Year 10 students from over 500 state schools in London and Essex participate in the annual event.
The competition is hosted by the UK’s leading public speaking and communication charity, Speakers Trust, and funded and supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation.
The regional champion, Estela Joseph, impressed judges with a powerful speech titled “A Jumble of Almosts”.
The core message of her speech was about celebrating and embracing diversity, acknowledging that our differences make us beautiful, and recognising that representation matters for inspiring future generations.
Her eloquence and passion captured the attention of expert judges Vanessa McCain, Anita Maullin, Al Read, Helen Wieland, Andy Copps, Immanuel Gaskin, and Mikołaj Radosz.
Estela will now proceed to the online semi-finals with 37 other regional champions, before the final 15 are selected for the grand final at the Cambridge Theatre on July 7.
Estela said: “I am feeling proud. Overjoyed. Excited.Advice for the future participants?
“Everyone who does the competition should believe in themselves and be themselves.”
The winner receives a £100 gift certificate and is now on track for the grand final of the competition, held at the Cambridge Theatre, Covent Garden.
The runner-up title went to Yusuf Niazi, representing Wilson’s School, with a speech titled “Kids Like Me”.
Third place went to Charles Wood from Wallington County Grammar School, with a speech to inspire hope and action in the fight against dementia, urging the audience to cherish life, support Alzheimer’s Society, and prevent wasted potential.
At the grand final, Estela could be competing not only for the honour of becoming this year’s Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out Challenge” Grand Champion but also for the chance to win £5,000 (a £2,000 bursary for herself and £3,000 for her school).
