Voice 21 Oracy Project

What is the Voice 21 mission?

Voice 21 is the national oracy education and our mission is to transform the learning and life chances of young people through talk. Our sustained approach weaves oracy into a school’s DNA, ensuring current and future students have access to a high-quality oracy education.

What is Oracy?

In the classroom context, oracy is both learning to and through talk. It is through talk that students have the opportunity to develop and share their understanding, through interactions with both teachers and peers. However, to do this effectively, students must also be taught to talk effectively, ensuring they have the necessary skills and understanding to engage in talk for learning.

Goals …

Improving student confidence
Increasing academic attainment
Promoting student well-being
Fostering belief in students that their voice is valued
Raising aspirations of students

Vision Statement

At Eastwood Village Primary School, we believe every child can become a confident and engaging communicator. Our oracy project is all about helping students speak clearly and eloquently, using grammar accurately while keeping their own unique style. We are encouraging our children to adjust their language for different settings, listen actively, and express themselves authentically. With these skills, they are set to enjoy brighter opportunities in school and beyond.

Oracy strategy

1. Curriculum Integration

Embed Oracy Across Subjects: At Eastwood Village Primary, integrate speaking and listening activities into all subjects. For example, encourage students to discuss historical events, present their findings in science, debate in an English lesson.
Dedicated Oracy Lessons: Allocate specific time for oracy lessons where students can practise and develop their speaking and listening skills.

2. Classroom Practices

Discussion and Debate: Regularly incorporate structured discussions and debates to help students articulate their thoughts and listen to others.
Group Work: Use group activities to promote collaborative speaking and listening.
Presentations: Encourage students to give presentations on various topics to build their confidence and public speaking skills.

3. Assessment and Feedback

Formative Assessment: Use formative assessments to provide ongoing feedback on students’ oracy skills using specific praise for oracy skills.
Peer and Self-Assessment: Encourage students to assess their own and their peers’ speaking and listening skills to foster self-awareness and improvement.

4. Professional Development

Teacher Training: Provide teachers with training on how to effectively teach and assess oracy skills.
Sharing Best Practices: Create opportunities for teachers to share successful oracy strategies and activities with each other.

5. School Culture

Promote a Culture of Speaking and Listening: Foster an environment where speaking and listening are valued and encouraged.
Student Voice: Involve students in decision-making processes to give them real-life opportunities to practice their oracy skills.

6. Resources and Support

Oracy Frameworks and Tools: Utilize frameworks and tools that provide structure and guidance for teaching oracy.
Access to Technology: Use technology, such as recording devices and speech analysis software, to support oracy development.

7. Parental Involvement

Workshops for Parents: Offer workshops to help parents understand the importance of oracy and how they can support their children’s development at home.
Home Activities: Provide resources and activities that parents can use to practice oracy skills with their children.

Specific Approaches at Eastwood Village Primary

Learning Partners: Pair students to work together, enhancing their speaking and listening skills through collaboration.
Group Work and Discussions: Regularly engage students in group work and discussions to promote active participation.
Circle Time and Whole Class Discussions: Use circle time and whole class discussions to encourage every student to share their thoughts in a supportive environment.
Games and Interactive Activities: Incorporate games and interactive activities to make oracy practice enjoyable and engaging