What is the ESU Oracy Culture Award?
The ESU Oracy Culture Award recognises the efforts and initiatives of schools to cultivate a long-term culture of oracy, helping students to build and develop confidence and skills in speaking and listening.
Open to both primary and secondary schools of all types in England and Wales, we particularly encourage applicants from teachers working in low socio-economic areas and state-run schools.

Why should I apply?
There are two award categories: one for primary schools and one for secondary schools. The winning schools will receive an ESU Oracy Culture Award trophy and a half-day Discover Your Voice workshop for up to 30 students. Our winners will also be invited to the prestigious Evelyn Wrench Lecture to receive their trophy alongside their runners-up who will receive a certificate of achievement.
Am I eligible for this award?
You are eligible to apply if you are a primary or secondary school in England or Wales that takes part in any of the following ESU programmes between April 2024 and April 2025:
- Discover Your Voice
- Performing Shakespeare Competition
- ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition
- Schools’ Mace
- Oracy in Action
- ESU Action Research Programme
Applications for 2025 are not yet open. Register your interest below to be notified when applications open.


What is the timeline for the award?
The ESU Awards timeline is currently under review for 2025. For information on the 2024 timeline, please see below.
- Weds, 1 May 2024 – Applications open
- Fri, 6 September 2024 – Applications close
- August 2024 – Pre-screening by ESU Education Team
- W/C Mon, 2 September 2024 – Shortlisted applications to be judged by panel
- W/C Mon, 9 September 2024 – Finalists to be confirmed
- Tues, 8 October 2024 – Awards presentation at Evelyn Wrench Lecture in London
Applications for 2025 are not yet open. Register your interest below to be notified when applications open.
Who will read and judge my application?
- All applications will be pre-screened and shortlisted by the Education team at the ESU.
- Our shortlisted candidates will then move forward to be reviewed by our judging panel. Our judging panel comprises of experts in the field of education, oracy and public speaking.
You’ll need some time to complete the full application form, as we want to hear all about oracy at your school. Some key things we’ll ask about are:
– How you began to develop the oracy culture at your school
– Examples of impactful initiatives and success stories
– How oracy influences your school’s curriculum
– Outreach and work in the wider community
– Ambitions and future plans
Applications for 2025 are not yet open. Register your interest below to be notified when applications open.

What criteria will I be judged on??
Innovation & Creativity
- Evidence of how you have brought new ideas and oracy initiatives into the school
- Demonstrate how you have furthered this work in developing your own culture of oracy
- Show how you have used the ESU to improve oracy in your setting
Inclusivity
- Evidence of how you have improved the oracy skills in students at all ages and academic levels
- Demonstrate how the school has worked to include/shine a light on diversity using oracy
- Show how working with the ESU has helped you to express your school’s unique character
Resilience & Growth
- Evidence the impact of oracy intervention across the school
- Evidence an increased engagement in oracy activity
- Show how working with the ESU has helped your school overcome a challenge
Community Outreach
- Provide evidence of engaging in the wider community e.g. other schools, local councils, or charities
- Show commitment to ongoing oracy culture, through long-running/wide-reaching oracy-based output
Applications for 2025 are not yet open. Register your interest below to be notified when applications open.

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