Surrey student among finalists for annual oracy competition, with the chance to win up to £1,000

London’s oldest higher education institute, Gresham College has officially announced the finalists for its third annual Young Orator of the Year Competition. The Gresham Competition, which began in 2023, showcases the communication skills of state school students in Year 12 (England and Wales), S5 (Scotland), and Year 13 (Northern Ireland). The event emphasises Gresham College’s dedication to promoting oracy skills and the importance of effective public speaking among young learners.

The twelve finalists from around the UK will deliver their prepared answers to one of Gresham College’s pre-set questions to a panel in London. The questions cover a broad range of subject areas, including STEM and the Humanities, encouraging young people to engage critically with academic research and contemporary issues.

Gianluca Squitieri, from St John the Baptist School Sixth Form in Woking, Surrey and has been announced as one of the finalists for the competition, following his presentation on an historical figure whose influence, story or achievements he feels has been either over-valued or under-valued.

Speaking on being shortlisted for the competition, Gianluca Squitieri says;

“I'm very excited about giving my presentation. This wasn't a position I expected myself to be in, but now that I'm here I'm really going to take full advantage of Gresham College's resources and use this experience to elevate myself within my future.

“There's been a lot of hugs and handshakes over the past couple of weeks after telling my school, friends and family. I'm really ready to just fully experience this and see how it goes.”

Before this stage of the competition, students from all over the UK submitted five-minute presentations on assigned topics, aiming to demonstrate their oratory abilities and engage with academic research. The competition places emphasis on verbal communication, but visual aids such as images, graphs, and slides may be incorporated to support arguments. The questions were posed by Gresham College.

The questions being answered by pupils (16-17 years old) in this years competition are as follows:

1. Aside from social media, what in your view is the most important positive – or negative – invention of the 21st century, and why?
2. How much is too much wealth?
3. Aside from English and Maths, which subject(s) should be compulsory at school and why?
4. Which book should we all read and why? (this can include both fiction and non-fiction)
5. How do you think the evolution of social media platforms has impacted (either negatively or positively) the way you communicate, build relationships, and express your identity?

Gianluca, along with the other finalists will now compete for significant prizes to support their educational journey. The Gold Award winner will be awarded £1,000, with their school receiving £500. The Silver Award winner will receive £700, with £300 for their school, and the Bronze Award winner will receive £500, with £200 awarded to their school. All other finalists will also receive a prize in recognition of their achievement, a new initiative for this year's competition.

The final will take place on 2 July 2025, at Gresham College, where finalists will present live before a panel of judges and audience of friends and family.

Professor Sarah Hart, Acting Provost, at Gresham College, says:

"We’re delighted to reveal the finalists for the 2025 Gresham Oracy Competition. This annual event gives students a unique opportunity to develop their oracy skills while engaging with thought-provoking academic topics that expand their understanding and spark curiosity ahead of their next steps in education. We were blown away by the quality of this year’s entries and can’t wait to see the finalists present in July."