A 15-year-old has bagged the top prize in a public speaking competition – with a talk on teeth.

Islington Gazette: (From left to right) Central Foundation Boys' School's Kidus Kinfu, borough fire commander Gary Squires, Arts and Media School, Islington's Azana Patterson and City of London Academy Highbury Hill's Marli Ann at the Jack Petchey 'speak out' challenge. Photo by Tony Preece.(From left to right) Central Foundation Boys' School's Kidus Kinfu, borough fire commander Gary Squires, Arts and Media School, Islington's Azana Patterson and City of London Academy Highbury Hill's Marli Ann at the Jack Petchey 'speak out' challenge. Photo by Tony Preece. (Image: TonyPreece.Com O AM)

Students from across Islington came together at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School for the Jack Petchey Foundation’s “speak out challenge” on Thursday.

More than 300 Year 10 students in the borough’s state secondary schools received a one-day public speaking and communications training workshop ahead of the tournament.

Arts and Media School Islington student Azana Patterson, whose funny speech about her gnashers bagged top prize, said: “It was such a fun and eventful night. I was so excited and relieved to win. Thank you everyone who supported me.”

Second place went to Central Foundation Boys’ School student Kidus Kinfu with his speech Who Cares? – closely followed by City of London Academy Highgate Hill pupil Marli Ann with her speech What Is Success?