Voice 21 Oracy
Intent
At Hambrough Primary School, we believe that oracy is fundamental to learning, communication and future success. We aim to develop confident, articulate and respectful speakers who can express their ideas clearly, listen actively to others and engage thoughtfully in discussion. Through a carefully planned progression of oracy skills from Nursery to Year 6, pupils develop the physical, linguistic, cognitive and social-emotional aspects of speaking and listening. We ensure that every pupil has regular opportunities to build vocabulary, justify opinions, ask purposeful questions, collaborate with others and present ideas to audiences.
Implementation
Oracy is embedded across the curriculum through purposeful talk in every classroom. Teachers explicitly teach and model speaking and listening skills using the school's progression document, ensuring that knowledge and skills build year on year. Lessons include structured opportunities for exploratory talk through paired, group and whole-class discussion.
Pupils are supported through the use of sentence stems, discussion protocols and carefully selected talk springboards. These strategies encourage pupils to explain their thinking, justify opinions, respectfully challenge ideas and build on the contributions of others.
Vocabulary development is prioritised across all subjects, with pupils encouraged to use newly acquired language confidently in discussion. Teachers model effective speaking and listening behaviours, explicitly teach expectations for collaborative talk and help pupils identify and reflect upon key oracy skills. As pupils progress through the school, they become increasingly independent in taking part in discussions and presenting ideas with confidence.
Impact
As a result of our oracy culture, pupils become confident communicators who are able to express themselves clearly, listen attentively and participate positively in a range of speaking and listening situations. They demonstrate an increasingly rich vocabulary, provide reasoned explanations, ask thoughtful questions and engage respectfully with differing viewpoints.
Pupils develop the confidence to contribute in lessons, collaborate effectively with others and present their ideas to audiences. Strong oracy skills enhance learning across the curriculum and prepare pupils with the communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills they need for lifelong learning and future success.