Oracy recognised as key skill
Yesterday’s publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report, and the government’s response to it, brings much to celebrate. A commitment to oracy skills is front and centre, as is the explicit understanding that mastery of these skills, alongside reading and writing, is not only the key to academic success, but a vital part in equipping young people to thrive.
While underlining the need for a knowledge-rich curriculum, the review also recognises that additional knowledge and skills – particularly critical thinking and media and financial literacy – are needed to navigate our rapidly-changing world. It calls, too, for a discrete focus on drama and, beyond the curriculum, a new emphasis on enrichment activities, including sports, performances, work experience and careers advice that will provide young people with transferable skills, further develop their confidence, and bring their learning to life.
In the new curriculum, which is set to be implemented from September 2028, the government has committed to:
- Introduce a new oracy framework which will support primary teachers to ensure their pupils become confident, fluent speakers and listeners by the end of Key Stage 2
- Introduce a new secondary oracy, reading and writing framework to enable secondary teachers to connect and embed all three of those vital skills in each of their subjects as part of a whole school strategy
- Support schools to implement best practice through professional development opportunities designed to support teachers in ensuring all children benefit from high quality oracy education
- Ensure that communication skills inherent in curriculum subjects are more clearly expressed through revised programmes of study
- Revise the English and drama programmes of study to exemplify the use of speaking and listening, as well as ensuring that the reformed English language GCSE focuses on the features and use of language as a form of communication
- Introduce a new statutory requirement to teach citizenship in Key Stages 1 and 2, using it to introduce learning on financial and media literacy, climate change and democracy and law into primary education
- Introduce a new core enrichment entitlement for every pupil – covering civic engagement; arts and culture; nature, outdoor and adventure; sport and physical activities; and developing wider life skills
These commitments are in addition to Ofsted’s recently published Inspection Toolkit for State-Funded Schools, which mandates inspectors to gather evidence on whether ‘all pupils are explicitly taught how to communicate effectively through spoken language (oracy), articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through speaking, listening and communication’. We believe that together, these developments will be transformational for young people and for society as a whole. From our work with young people here and around the world, we see the wonderful things that happen when children can express themselves well, listen critically and work together to agree a way forward. We see the confidence that develops, and the self-belief and ambition to which it gives rise. And we see that vital appreciation for nuance that comes when one understands another’s point of view; and the friendships that so often emerge, in spite of perceived differences.
For schools looking to embed oracy in their curriculum, there are a number of ways in which we can help. Our national competitions (Public Speaking, Schools’ Mace and Performing Shakespeare), all work to develop students’ speaking and listening skills, their confidence and critical thinking. Our Discover Your Voice workshops are flexible and adaptable to whatever your school needs, helping to prepare your students for a competition or acting as a fun introduction to oracy and the four key skill sets (Expression & Delivery; Reasoning & Evidence; Organisation & Prioritisation; Listening & Response). Or why not try our CPD workshops, designed to equip educators with practical, research-backed strategies to embed oracy seamlessly into their teaching and foster effective communication skills in the classroom.
