Archbishop Benson CofE Primary School

Oracy

Oracy Vision:

At Archbishop Benson CofE Primary, our children receive a high-quality oracy education that empowers them to engage with each other and the curriculum. Through the explicit teaching of oracy, we develop confident learners who actively engage in the co-construction of knowledge and harnessing new skills. As a school we recognise that oracy unites us; all voices are valued in our community. Oracy is the foundation for preparing our children for life in and beyond school.

Oracy Intent:

At Archbishop Benson CofE Primary, our intent is to provide a high-quality oracy education that equips every child with the skills, confidence and opportunities to express themselves effectively. We believe that spoken language underpins learning, relationships and personal development; therefore, we prioritise the explicit teaching of oracy across the curriculum.

Our aim is to empower children to communicate with clarity, actively listen with respect, and engage thoughtfully with others. Through purposeful talk, we nurture learners who can articulate ideas, reason collaboratively and contribute meaningfully. We are committed to fostering an environment where every voice is valued, celebrated, and heard, for example pupils are encouraged to engage with visitors, share ideas in classroom discussions and ask questions in assemblies.

By embedding oracy at the heart of our practice, we prepare our children not only for successful learning in school, but also for life beyond the classroom, ensuring they have the confidence, skills and character to flourish in their community and the wider world.

 

Oracy Framework

Archbishop Benson is a Voice 21 school 

What does that mean?  

Voice 21 is the UK’s oracy education charity. They work with schools to transform the learning and life chances of young people through talk. They campaign for oracy to have a higher status in the education system. 

 

Why does Voice 21 exist? 

They exist to increase access to high-quality oracy education, particularly for those children that need it most. Voice 21 achieve this by working in partnership with teachers and schools via the Voice 21 Oracy Schools membership. By demonstrating the value and impact of oracy, schools inspire others to provide a high-quality oracy education and, in doing so, make society a fairer, more equitable place where all voices are valued and heard. 

What is oracy? 

Oracy is the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language. 

In school, oracy is a powerful tool for learning; by teaching students to become more effective speakers and listeners we empower them to better understand themselves, each other and the world around them. It is also a route to social mobility, empowering all students, not just some, to find their voice to succeed in school and life. 

 

How can you measure its success? 

The deliberate, explicit and systematic teaching of oracy across phases and throughout the curriculum will support children and young people to make progress in the four strands of oracy outlined in the Oracy Framework.  

The Oracy Framework can be used as a basis of formative assessment, enabling you to gauge what your students have or have not yet grasped and informing you what to teach next. 

We celebrateOracy at ABB each week. 
Oracy Certificates are being awarded to pupils who demonstrate progress and excellence in speaking and listening across the curriculum. They reflect our commitment to developing confident communicators and allow us to celebrate and share the impact of our ongoing work on oracy across the school with our school community.