“Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.”
Brian Tracy
Oracy is the ability to express oneself fluently and grammatically in speech. Oracy combines the range of speaking and listening skills, behaviours and language necessary for communication and collaboration.
Our philosophy and intent for our children’s oracy and communication align with the quote from Voice 21:
‘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.’
The development of spoken language within our curriculum is a key driver of change to improve outcomes for our children.
Our aim in spoken language is to provide a sound foundation for the development of oracy skills.
At the heart of good oracy is a dialogic classroom. We endeavour to have classrooms rich in talk, from effective questioning to constructive peer discussions and teachers using talk skilfully to develop and encourage critical thinking. The ability to articulate ideas and thoughts, collaborate with peers and have the confidence to express your views are all vital life skills that support success in learning and life in general.
We use the Oracy Framework created by Voice 21 and teach children important life skills, reflected in 4 key oracy strands:
- Physical: Voice, Body Language
- Linguistic: Rhetorical techniques, Language, Vocabulary
- Cognitive: Content, Structure, Clarifying & Summarising, Self-Regulation, Reasoning
- Social & Emotional: Working with others, Listening & Responding, Confidence, Audience Awareness
