It’s given me the confidence to go: you know other people are doing this, I don’t have to sneak oracy in the back door, but we can demand that it is part of the curriculum, that is becoming part of a wider educational dialogue very very quickly

It was an inspiring experience, which I have absolutely no doubt, has changed the life chances of many pupils at Coppice Primary School.

For me, at the centre is the belief that we all have something worth saying. To develop oracy is to develop individuals who know and understand their own worth and that of others, to create collaborative and empathetic individuals who understand and invest in the importance of community and who can use their voices for the good of themselves and others.

Last year I completed the Voice 21 Pioneers Programme and this year have moved onto the Oracy Leaders Programme. The training has been consistently excellent and has given me the tools and confidence to lead oracy across my school. We also worked with Voice 21 for a full academic year at school, and they tailored their input and training to our specific needs. Again, all of this was well planned, thorough and helpful.