Non Sports Competitions

SHARES holds a Poetry competition annually that gives pupils from our cluster of primary schools an opportunity to write and present their own poem on a pre-selected theme. As National Poetry Day is in October, we aim to hold the competition around this time. The children create their entries in school and compete against their classmates in order to be selected for the final competition. During the competition the students present their poems in front of their peers and a panel of judges. The judges will select the winners based on the delivery of the poem, how creative the poem is and its connection to the theme. Our children love to represent their school in competition and for those budding young writers this is a great opportunity to showcase their talent and use their English Literature and language knowledge in the most creative way possible. We also aim to put the children’s entries together in a booklet and hand them out to the local libraries so that their work can be showcased to the community.

Our SHARES Debating Event runs as an annual session where participants engage in discourse on a specific topic or motion. The primary goal of a debating event is to promote critical thinking and develop oracy skills around topics that the pupils will feel strongly about. It encourages participants to research, articulate their thoughts persuasively, and engage in respectful discussion. Prior to the event, a set of motions or topics is chosen. Each team then presents their arguments in favour of or against the motion. These motions cover a wide range of subjects, from social and political issues that may be local or national or international. Once all teams have had their opportunity to present their opinion a vote will be taken, and a decision will be made on the outcome. Overall, a debating event is an exciting and educational forum for intellectual exchange and the art of persuasive discourse. It fosters the development of crucial life skills and provides a platform for individuals to express their opinions on important topics in a structured and respectful manner.

Our SHARES public speaking competition is a valuable educational activity that assists young students develop essential communication skills and boost their self-confidence. This an opportunity for young students to work in a team researching about a topic that they may feel strongly or passionate about. The students are provided guidance on how the speech should be structured and what can be expected from them in terms of presentation and team work. The competition is held at a prestigious venue in West Lancashire and is judged by a panel of guests. Pupils are recognised for the effort that they put into their speech and their oracy skills and as a result a trophy and medals are awarded to the teams deemed to have shown great communication and presentation skills. All participants are awarded a certificate for participation. The SHARES public speaking competition is a memorable and enriching experience for our children, helping them develop vital skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. It can also foster a sense of confidence and self-assuredness that will benefit them in future academic and personal endeavours.

The SHARES Pupil Parliament consists of two pupil representatives from each SHARES cluster school. The two pupil representatives are invited to attend Pupil Parliament meetings and any planned activities throughout the academic year.

The objectives of the Pupil Parliament are:

• Develop children’s skills in voicing their opinions.
• Increase their confidence.
• Give them an appreciation and understanding of democracy and how working together can bring about positive change.
• Promote British values.

The Pupil Parliament has been involved in many different local initiatives and projects over the years including Beacon Country Park Play Area, Skelmersdale Foodbank, The Birchwood Centre, Big Tidy Up and creating a time capsule. Last academic year the Pupil Parliament were part of the consultation process for the proposed redevelopment of The Beacon Country Park and were able to have their say and put forward their opinions.

In our first meeting of the year, the Pupil Parliament representatives are introduced to what Pupil parliament is and are given an overview of what will happen over the academic year. During this meeting The Year 6 representatives from each school will be asked to deliver a speech on ‘Why they would like to be Prime Minister of the Pupil Parliament’. The children will get the opportunity to vote, which is done through a formal voting system. The pupil who receives the most votes will become Prime Minister, second Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary.

We schedule a visit to the Mayor at West Lancashire Borough Council chambers in Ormskirk where the children are given a speech by the Mayor and invited to the Mayor’s chambers to ask questions and take photos. This is a great experience for the children as they get to understand more about democracy and how local council work. It can broaden their understanding of democracy and demonstrate what working in local government can look like.