Hear what pupils have to say
‘The workshop’s really fun and it gives you loads of confidence.’ Find out how a Discover Your Voice session could benefit your students.
Key facts
Our primary workshops cover basic oracy skills, public speaking, debating and performance. Each is delivered by ESU-trained mentors and develops a range of key skills including listening and response, expression and delivery, organisation and prioritisation, and reasoning and evidence. All can be offered as a half or full day.
Suitable for: Key stages 1 and 2
Workshop length: Half day, full day
Delivery: ESU Mentors
Prices starting from: £325 for half-day and £495 for full-day session
Find out more about our workshops below
Developing Oracy Skills
This workshop is for learners who are beginning to use talk for learning or seeking to improve their speaking and listening skills.
Through fun and creative games, pupils gain confidence when expressing themselves in front of an audience, explore speaking styles for formal and informal environments and gain strategies for active listening, turn-taking and summarising information.
The workshop builds up to a presentational talk activity (such as a speech, discussion or facilitated debate) which can be tailored to a specific curriculum focus. All learners receive feedback.
Learning objectives:
- Understand what oracy skills are and their importance for learning
- Apply/use key skills via focused games and activities
- Analyse/examine what skills an activity requires
- Participate in a discussion/debate/presentation
Skills for Debating
Through debate, learners will be shown how to justify ideas with reasons; ask questions to check understanding; negotiate; evaluate and build on the ideas of others; and select the appropriate register for effective communication.
Designed to support learners to explain their understanding and to prepare their ideas before they write, this workshop focuses on how to speak clearly and convey ideas confidently. Pupils will participate in a range of small and whole group speaking activities which can be tailored to context.
The workshop will build up to participation in a debate of an appropriate format and learners will receive valuable feedback.
Learning objectives:
- Understand how oracy skills are used in debating
- Apply/use skills via focused games/activities
- Analyse/examine what skills an activity requires
- Create/perform a speech or adjudication
- Understand how the ESU’s skill sets are used and can be developed
Skills for Public Speaking
Public speaking has great personal benefits, such as building self-esteem, honing critical thinking skills, and equipping learners with skills for work and higher education – verbal communication is a highly sought-after skill among employers.
Pupils will learn what makes a strong presentation, experiment with different styles of delivery and leave feeling able to express their thoughts with confidence. Workshop leaders will create a safe and fun space for learners to put their skills to practice, deliver a speech and receive valuable feedback.
Learning objectives:
- Understand/recognise how oracy skills are used in public speaking
- Apply/use skills via focused games/activities
- Analyse/examine what skills an activity requires
- Create/perform a speech or performance
- Understand how the ESU’s skill sets are used and can be developed
Skills for Performing
Through performance, learners will be shown how to critically interrogate a text, use their voice and body language to convey ideas, and how dramatic devices are used to communicate meaning.
Designed to support learners in their critical reading and emotional awareness, this workshop focuses on how the work of dramatists is communicated effectively through performance. Pupils will participate in a range of small- and whole-group activities and contribute to a performance (prose, poetry or drama linked to their scheme of work).
Learning objectives:
- Understand/recognise how oracy skills are used in performance
- Apply/use skills via focused games/activities
- Analyse/examine what skills an activity requires
- Create/perform a monologue, duologue or performance piece
- Understand how the ESU’s skill sets are used and can be developed
‘SEN children love these workshops’
‘Because the workshops are all about talking and, because the children’s opinion is valued, and they are given the same amount of time as others to talk, they really feel that they’re contributing, and they become much more involved. It’s lovely to see them coming out of their shells and joining in the whole class discussion.’
Rosie Unwin, Teacher, Rosendale School, London
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