A West Hatch High School student was the runner-up in a public speaking competition.
Nilofer Sait, 15, competed in the Worshipful Company of Educators contest at Gresham College in the City of London on Monday (March 23).
The Year 10 student delivered a speech entitled Can Politicians Solve Our Immigration Crisis?.
Nilofer said: "I am absolutely delighted.
"I have worked so hard to memorise the whole thing but it was scary to be asked such difficult questions from the floor."
Ropa Gutu, who also attends the Chigwell school, was placed sixth.
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