Meet Grand Finalist, Tom Davies

We are delighted to share that this has been the biggest year ever for Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge. Up to 35,000 students have been trained in over 500 schools across all of London and Essex.

Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge provides year 10 students in state schools across London and Essex with public speaking and communication training to increase their confidence, sense of agency and drive to make a difference in society.

During the academic year, over 500 schools have received a free one-day public speaking workshops for their students. The student’s confidence in speaking to an audience, without notes, is measured at the beginning and at the end of the day. During 2024-2025, 74% of students have increased their confidence to stand up and talk to a group of people. At the end of the day, every school nominates one student to go on to a Regional or Digital Final, where they compete again other school finalists and their speeches are judged based on content delivery, structure and positive impact by a panel of esteemed judges. After going on to win the semi-finals, our 15 inspirational, articulate, and impressive speakers are now ready to present their speech to you!

We will celebrate the achievements of these awe-inspiring young people in the heart of London’s West End at Cambridge Theatre on Monday 7th July and crown the 2025 Speak Out Champion!

In no particular order, meet 2025 Grand Finalist Tom Davies! 

Their speech ‘Live with Wonder’ earned them and their school, Moulsham High School, first place in the Central Essex Regional Final. 

We asked Tom, what three items or people would you choose to take to a desert island and why? 

1) Guitar- I can play it for hours and have the time to learn loads of cool tricks 2) Pen and Paper- I can write stories, keep a journal and draw 3) A really, really big lego set- doesn’t need explaining!

What is your favourite saying or quote?

‘All we have to do is to decide what to do with the time that is given to us’ – Gandalf.  This quote teaches us the importance of our actions, which only we have control of, we have to stand strong in the face of adversity but not obsess over things we can’t control. I believe it also pairs nicely with my speech.

If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Burger – It reminds me of pub lunches with family and camping

What three tips would you give to a Year 7 student? 

1) You don’t have to run to every lesson, teachers understand if you get lost at first in such a big place 2) Don’t immediately decide what subjects you want to take for GCSEs and neglect the rest, by Year 9 your interests may have completely changed, and you will want a range of options 3) Do a wide variety of clubs, now is the time to enrich when you don’t have exams, by Year 10, the best clubs for you will have stuck, relieving stress in the time of exams

Why did you choose to speak about this subject? 

We live in a world that moves fast. Too fast. We are at danger of becoming disconnected. A world where people put down their phones more often and come to terms with the quieter, slower more ordinary aspects of life is a world where the big, extraordinary moments become all the more impactful. I think then you get the Childhood Wonder we all used to feel resulting in a world with higher empathy, attention spans and appreciation.

How would you like people to think/act differently after hearing your story?

I would like them to take a moment outside to appreciate the simple things in life. Start with the little details you can see, like bugs or flowers, then build up appreciate the trees and clouds. Then I would like them to do something their childhood self loved (a sport, video game, hobby) something nostalgic. I think then we get wonder, and a fresh perspective of our lives.

Best of luck Tom and see you at the Grand Final on July 7th!