Oracy
At Newick, we believe that oracy—the ability to express ideas, emotions, and listen actively—is fundamental to personal growth, academic achievement, and building strong relationships. Through our partnership with Voice21, the UK’s leading charity promoting speaking and listening in schools, we strive to embed oracy into every aspect of learning, equipping students with the skills to prepare them for success in school and life and articulate themselves with confidence and empathy. This aligns profoundly with our school values of Wisdom, Independence, Creativity, and Kindness.
Wisdom
Oracy nurtures wisdom by helping students articulate thoughtful ideas, analyse different perspectives, and engage in meaningful discussions. Through structured class and group discussions, students learn to instigate, clarify, probe, summarize, challenge ideas, fostering critical thinking and intellectual growth. These discussions allow students to build on each other’s contributions, promoting collaborative learning and deeper understanding.
Independence
Teaching oracy skills equips students with the confidence to express themselves clearly and advocate for their ideas. We empower children to take ownership of their voice, enabling them to lead discussions, ask insightful questions, and manage their contributions effectively. By developing skills such as turn-taking and active listening, students build the independence needed to communicate effectively in diverse situations.
Creativity
Oracy opens pathways for creativity, as students are encouraged to share imaginative ideas, explore new perspectives, and think innovatively through storytelling, dialogue, and imaginative expression. We distinguish between discursive talk and presentational talk, and children are given many opportunities to present their ideas and learning to a variety of audiences. Through the framework's emphasis on rhetorical techniques such as storytelling, humor, and metaphor we help students to communicate in dynamic and engaging ways, showcasing their creative potential.
Kindness
Effective communication is grounded in kindness and respect. In every discussion, we teach children to listen actively, respect others’ viewpoints, and ensure everyone’s voice is heard. By focusing on these skills, students learn to build positive relationships and foster a classroom culture of mutual understanding and inclusivity. Through a consistent focus on oracy, we ensure that all students develop the core skills of productive discussion and meaningful communication. These skills not only enrich their learning but also help them grow into articulate, empathetic, and confident individuals who embody our school values in every interaction.
Since starting our Oracy journey with Voice21 in October 2023, we have begun to embed oracy in subjects across the curriculum. We endeavour to always bear in mind that all speaking falls across the spectrum of Discursive to Presentational modes. One exciting change we have additionally made is to let children present their learning to parents and carers at workshops alongside more traditional class assemblies.
This year, our focus is on elevating classroom practice with a specific focus on raising the standard of classroom discussions, as well as harnessing the power of oracy to teach children new vocabulary.