Grand Final 2025 Round Up

What an incredible event! Every year we are blown away by the rising standard of the speakers; their authority on their chosen topic and their eloquence.

Just in case you missed the event, here’s everything you need to know.

Adam Ravat from St Ignatius College in Enfield, captivated an audience of nearly 1,000 at Covent Garden’s Cambridge Theatre on Monday 7th July, earning him the title of Grand Champion winner of Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge 2024-25. 

Using his natural charm and witty storytelling, Adam entertained the judges and audience while sharing some personally observed truths; “I’m not calling for the total abolition of homework…however, homework on the weekend stops us being sociable. We need more time to think about, care for and be ourselves.”

Adam will receive £2,000 for himself and £3,000 for his school, St Ignatius College to be spent on a project of his choice.

Runner-up position went to Precious Adepoju of Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls in Greenwich. Precious shared her very personal experience of sickle cell disease and encouraged listeners to spread awareness of the condition.

Third place was taken by Noah Gilbert of Richard Challoner School in Kingston, South London. Noah’s speech ‘The Core of it All’ looked back at the significance of the apple throughout history and reminded us to sometimes look at the bigger picture.

Fourth place was awarded to Fereshta Najib from Grey Court School in South London. Fereshta’s speech questions the rights of Afghan girls and urges listeners to stick up for those who have less freedom than we do. 

You can watch these winning speeches online very soon…watch this space.

CONGRATULATIONS to every single young person who took part in Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge! this year.

To view photos from the evening please click here.