Oracy: 2018-2019

This academic year has been a busy one for oracy.

 

There is a growing consensus across society, including government, employers, teachers and parents, as to the importance of oracy in education.

 

A few items of interest:

 

In February, both Nick Gibb and Damian Hinds advocated the importance of oracy as a fundamental part of education. Indeed, the links between oracy and the personal development section of the new OFSTED framework are clear.

 

In May the Oracy APPG was launched in Westminster. This inquiry will investigate the current provision of oracy education in the UK, assess the value and impact of oracy education and identify the barriers to children accessing and receiving quality oracy education.

 

I attended the Fair Education Alliance Annual Summit last week, and one of their three collective action projects focuses on ensuring a rounded education for all – an education which develops and values the skills, qualities and knowledge needed to thrive in education, life and work.

Also last week, the CBI released a new report, Getting Young People Work Ready, their vision for how education should prepare young people for the modern world.

 

And on Monday this week, given the current debate over the identity of our next Prime Minster, this article in The Times on Monday Oratory should be for the many not the few makes for interesting reading.

 

For Talk The Talk, the number of students that we have supported with their oracy skills this academic year has nearly doubled to over 28,000 – this in itself is evidence of the importance of oracy within education.

We shall continue, in the new academic year, to support students across the UK in becoming confident communicators for life.