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Students Deliver Inspiring Ignite Speeches
10 December 2025
It has been a fantastic week at The Birkenhead Park School (BPS), as Round 1 of our students’ Ignite Speeches took place.
Based on the concept of ‘Ignite Presentations’, Ignite Speeches at BPS are 2-5 minute talks that students write and deliver in assembly to their year group. These speeches take place three times a year, with each talk responding to a question inspired by The Big Read book they have been exploring in form.
The Big Read was introduced in 2018 and is a daily reading programme designed to inspire a love of reading in our learners, no matter their starting point. All Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8, and 9) students participate every morning, and at the end of each phase, they vote for the next book to read.
For this round of Ignite, students tackled a wide range of questions, including:
- “Why is it important to face your fears?” (Coraline by Neil Gaiman)
- “Can people truly change?” (Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy)
- “How important is forgiveness?” (Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher)
- “Should secrets ever be kept?” (One of Us Is Lying by Karen M McManus)
Our students presented their ideas with enthusiasm and clarity, sharing personal viewpoints, opinions, and experiences. They spoke with eloquence and confidence, and many who were initially nervous overcame their fears to deliver truly memorable talks. The audience actively listened and responded with lots of applause, celebrating every person’s efforts – especially those who were stepping onto the stage for the first time.
Some participants this round were even new to our school. For example, Rhyley in Year 9 wrote an excellent speech about whether people can change and bravely delivered it on stage in front of everyone, despite only joining BPS a few weeks ago.
Several students also engaged directly with the audience, asking teachers and peers questions and encouraging participation, making the assemblies interactive, too.
All participants were awarded a special golden star badge to proudly display on their lanyards, recognising their achievement and courage.
Our Ignite Speeches initiative began just last year and is already achieving remarkable results. Staff have noticed clear improvement in learners’ confidence, public speaking, and critical thinking skills. It is also having a wider impact on our school culture, as students now speak more regularly and confidently in lessons and around school, and show increased academic resilience as they challenge themselves to articulate their ideas and rise to new challenges with determination.
At The Birkenhead Park School, we aim to help our young people grow into confident, thoughtful adults, capable of thinking deeply and expressing themselves clearly. Oracy – our ability to speak effectively and listen intently – is central to this goal. This skill is a standout strength at BPS: teachers encourage discussion in lessons and equip students with the knowledge to communicate like subject experts, tackling complex ideas with maturity.
Every student has the opportunity to write and deliver an Ignite Speech, and each round sees more participants stepping forward. Those who have spoken before continue to grow in confidence, showing great progress over time.
Deputy Head of The Birkenhead Park School, Miss Dawes, said: “I am extremely proud of all our students who delivered an Ignite Speech this week. It was wonderful to see them share their ideas with confidence, and incredible to witness our young people taking the steps to challenge themselves. Their peers were fully engaged, cheering each other on, especially those who felt nervous, which made these assemblies even more special. I can’t wait to see more of our learners taking the stage and sharing such fantastic pieces in the next round.”
Ignite Speeches continue to make a positive impact on our school community, and initiatives like this are part of what makes BPS a ‘school on the up’.
