BSN Students Share Their Visions for the Future at WeSpeak

November 23rd 2021

On Monday 15 November, The British School in The Netherlands (BSN) hosted its first-ever WeSpeak event at Junior School Leidschenveen (JSL). It was a celebration of oracy and performance; a chance to exchange ideas, challenge the status quo, and come together and be inspired.

Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future

This term marks the 90th anniversary of the BSN; a milestone celebrated across all campuses during the week commencing 15 November 2021. Overarching themes of this special birthday are: Showcasing our community (past and present), reflecting on how education has progressed over 90 years, and imagining what teaching and learning could look like when the BSN reaches its centennial.  

Passing the microphone to some of the BSN's exceptional students for the WeSpeak event was a fantastic way to pay tribute to the school as the community looks to what the future holds.

I'm always extremely impressed with the public speaking skills of our students. It was a privilege to see the performances in WeSpeak, and witness the results of the weeks of hard work and practice that have gone into these speeches.

-Heath Monk, BSN CEO

BSN Student Voices

Eight students from across the BSN's campuses had the opportunity to share their visions for the world in 10 years and the role that education would play in making these visions a reality. Each student prepared a speech and spoke about a topic or issue that mattered to them, presenting evidence, research, practical solutions and creativity.

In addition, there were performances by some of the student musicians at the BSN. The JSL School Choir kicked off the morning with an original song, 'Welcome', sung in two languages. Senior School Leidschenveen (SSL) students, too, showcased their musical skills: Devika and Miren, Year 9 students played Shostakovich, Waltz No. 2, from Suite for Variety Orchestra, a duet on piano and violin, and later, Laute, a Year 8 student performed Schubert, Impromptu No.2, Op. 90 on piano.

Welcoming Members of the BSN Community and Honoured Guests

The student speakers and performers received huge support for their impressive performances from the small audience of classmates, parents, and special guests, including Her Excellency Joanna Roper, British Ambassador to the Netherlands.

The ability to speak confidently in front of a group of people is an amazing life skill that the participants will be able to use throughout their lives. I have used the skills that I developed at school, as a member of the BSN debating club, in so many aspects of my professional life - as a lecturer, as a trainer and as a lawyer. I am delighted to participate in the BSN's WeSpeak Event!

- Karen Hennessy-Massaro, BSN Governor of Parental Interests

A formal judging panel was also appointed, which added to the excitement and prestige of the event. The judges were: Heath Monk, BSN CEO, whose CV includes working as a speechwriter; Karen Hennessy-Massaro, a lawyer by profession and the BSN Governor of Parental Interests; Billy Allwood, Editor of The Hague Online, Founder and Head of the 'Feel at Home in The Hague' Fair.

Good communications skills are becoming increasingly important in our modern world, and the ability to express oneself is an important skill to master to become an influencer of the future.

- Billy Allwood, Editor of The Hague Online, Founder and Head of the 'Feel at Home in The Hague' Fair

Following each round of speeches, the judges deliberated and provided feedback to the speakers along with a certificate to commemorate their achievements.

The panel was continuously impressed throughout the event! The judges shared their admiration and praise for each address, giving detailed examples of what worked well and kudos for each speaker's unique presentation.

From Gardens to AI: From Utilitarianism to Equality

The audience first heard from three Junior School students: Chloe spoke about her love of gardening and the benefits of cultivating homegrown fruit and vegetables; Olivia gave a passionate speech on the need for equal rights for everyone regardless of race, gender, and sexual orientation; Nelly, an avid reader, spoke about the impact of climate change on availability of printed books in the future.

Five Senior School students then presented their speeches: Arnav, a keen follower of trend forecasting, presented his predictions of the world in ten years that covered climate change, healthcare, expansion of artificial intelligence, and the future of work and education; Lily and Yi Ling gave a joint speech on the need for gender equality along with practical solutions and actions to achieve a more gender-equitable future; Reese's speech examined the shortcomings of utilitarianism in today's society, and the need to teach morals and ethical fundamentals to ensure an improved version of utilitarianism in the future; Franziska spoke about the evolution of technology and what that might mean for the world, and specifically, learning and education, in the next ten years.

The Power of a Well-delivered Speech

WeSpeak was truly a celebration of the art of oracy! Throughout the morning, many reflected upon the power and importance of public speaking and referenced famous speeches that have changed the world.

Great public speaking starts with a simple premise, delivered in a way that captures the audience's imagination and leaves them thinking on after you've finished. It's one of the most powerful skills we can have.

- Her Excellency Joanna Roper, British Ambassador to the Netherlands

Heath Monk encouraged the student speakers to engage with the audience and to allow for unscripted moments. He explained,

"The best speeches are a mix of the prepared and the improvised. The Ambassador spoke about Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech, probably the most important speech of the twentieth century. And that wasn't in the script. That was something that on the day, someone in the crowd said, 'Tell them about the dream, Martin,' and he went off-script. He felt that that was the right thing to do, and it became one of the most powerful pieces of rhetoric that has ever been heard."

Stay Tuned…

Through careful planning (the event's programme was broken into three segments to allow three different, small audiences) and the use of QR scans, the event went ahead in person. In other circumstances, WeSpeak would have been an opportunity to gather more of the BSN community together.

Luckily, the event was filmed, and videos of the speeches will soon be available. Stay tuned!

A Round of Applause and Heartfelt Thanks

Thank you to our judges, teachers, staff members and parents of the students involved, all of whom made this day possible.

A special thank you to Juan Arias for all of his efforts and hard work in organising this incredible day.

The Future Looks Bright

Perhaps one day, future students worldwide will be quoting famous speeches given by those who started by speaking at the BSN. Until then, massive congratulations to all of the student performers, speakers, singers, musicians, and MCs!