CULCHETH High students have brought home first place prize from the Youth Speaks heats.

Three ‘exceptional’ pupils gave public speeches while competing in their district’s competition, Golborne Heats.

Participating schools included Birchwood Community High School, Byrchall High School, Culcheth High School, Golborne High School and Lymm High School.

The competition, which is organised by the Rotary club, allows students to talk at length about a topic of their choice.

Students that made up this year’s team included Hazel Pouncey (chairperson), Darcey Gripton (main speaker) and Isabelle (vote of thanks).

The team chose to explore whether we are becoming an anti-social society and aimed to inspire others to take part in more extra-curricular activities to promote connection, communication and improved mental health.

Each speaker generously shared their own experiences to support their argument.

A spokesperson for Culcheth High commended the students on their performance, saying: “Not only were the students articulate and mature, they had spent hours preparing and rehearsing their speech in their own time.

“The event is always a fantastic experience and an opportunity to build confidence and develop valuable public speaking skills.

“Not only do the students enjoy the evening, it’s also a real treat for the adults involved to sit back and learn something new from young people in the local area.”

After facing some tough competitors, Culcheth’s team were ‘deserving’ winners and will now progress on to the District Final on Monday March 11.