Talk About Transition

Years 5-7 - Half-Day Workshop

Prepare your students for secondary school and establish high oracy expectations

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Are your students secondary school ready?

Talk About Transition engages students using oracy based activities and strategies to develop greater self-confidence and resilience to support a successful transition from primary to secondary school.

This workshop can support the Gatsby Benchmarks by helping you to address the needs of each pupil (3) and linking curriculum learning to careers (4). This workshop can also form part of a stable careers programme (1).

England – supports the National Curriculum for Key Stage 2 and Spoken English for Key Stage 3

Wales – supports the Literacy & Numeracy Framework for Years 5 – 7

Workshop Aims
  • Building positive relationships
  • Promoting well-being
  • Boosting confidence in new surroundings
  • Improving connections with peers
  • Developing oracy skills

What does this workshop involve?

This is a half-day confident communication workshop aimed at students who are about to join or have recently joined secondary school. Within this workshop each student will speak in front of his or her peers on several occasions.


During the workshop students will:

  • Create an individual transition profile
  • Talk about how they feel when starting their new school
  • Be partnered with a new friend – and each will interview and then introduce their partner to their peers with a structured talk
  • Identify what they see as the opportunities and challenges facing them in their new school
  • Work within small groups to present a structured talk about these opportunities and challenges and suggest the means to embrace and overcome them
  • Identify their goals for the coming year in their new school and present a structured talk to their peers about them

Case Study - Ysgol Y Moelwyn

Students Reported Feeling...

49%
More confident when communicating
40%
More confident when talking about their life experiences
57%
Better equipped with the skills for confident communication

What students say about Talk About Transition

“We came up to the secondary school for the day with pupils from other primary schools in the area to take part in a Talk The Talk workshop. It was a great chance to express ourselves and to learn new words. I really enjoyed getting to know other pupils who I would be in year 7 with in September. I felt more confident speaking English in front of people by the end of the day as we did a presentation in groups in front of everyone. I would definitely like to take part in another workshop again!”

 

What staff say about Talk the Talk

“In my view fluent and confident oracy skills are a corner stone to success in the widest sense, personal fulfilment, social inclusion, developing friendships, success in the world of work and as a basis for developing other skills to get to grip with today’s ever more challenging world.

I am really impressed with the success of the Talk the Talk team in supporting and promoting the excellent work of our English department to ensure that our pupils develop these skills with confidence.

The workshops are brilliant! It never ceases to amaze me how the team succeed in developing oracy skills within an intense and lively one day session.”

Dewi Lake – Headteacher

Ongoing Support

At the end of the workshop Talk The Talk’s support doesn’t end. Our resources section includes free videos, lesson plans and classroom resources so you can continue to build on what we have started. This allows you to continue to boost communication opportunities and ensure that strong oracy skills are embedded within the mindsets of your students.

Testimonials

“Wow! Yet another outstanding day delivered by Talk The Talk. Never tire of seeing these confident young adults standing up and talking about something that matters to them!”

Our Lady & St John Catholic College,
Blackburn

“A well delivered session that has visibly improved my tutor group’s confidence. Students went home buzzing at the end of their first day at school. We have booked the sessions again for next year.”

Dorcan Academy,
Swindon

“Have to say, if anyone had told me at the start of the day, that the students would produce speeches of the quality they did, just five hours later, I’d have said they were delusional…! Phenomenal results!”

Langley Grammar School,
Slough

“Lovely manner with the students, building their confidence and resilience effectively. Students engaged in all activities and a positive learning environment throughout.”

Newall Green High School,
Manchester

“The training was perfectly pitched for the age of our students and it enabled all students to progress significantly with their ability to construct and present to an audience effectively. Everyone from the most confident through to the most anxious absolutely thrived.”

Glenmoor and Winton Academies,
Bournemouth

“Students are highly engaged and are learning a lot of good skills. Pace is good and the sessions progress well. The trainer is obviously vastly experienced with training school children. Excellent!”

Prendergast Ladywell School,
London

“The CPD delivered was outstanding. Many teachers felt it was one of the best inset days we’ve had and they feel great motivation as a result of the tips and guidance.”

Ladybridge High School,
Bolton

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