Today, Voice 21 welcomes Bridget Phillipson as the Secretary of State for Education and Catherine McKinnell and Jacqui Smith to their new roles as Education Ministers. In her first speech to the Department for Education, the new Secretary of State reasserted the new government’s commitment to oracy. 

“The greatest mission of this Labour government … will be to break down the barriers of opportunity which hold back too many of our children. You will have heard me repeat … some of what that will mean: giving all of our children the best start in their early years, delivering breakfast clubs and excellent maths teaching in every primary school, expanding speech and language support, more teachers, stronger training for staff and leaders alike, a comprehensive review of curriculum and assessment, a reformed Ofsted alongside regional improvement teams in the department, professional careers advisors and compulsory work experience, a new skills landscape and reforms to the existing Levy, and improving mental health support for all of our children.”

Dr Kate Paradine, CEO of Voice 21, said:

“Speech and language featured in Bridget Phillipson’s first speech to the Department for Education staff, confirming that helping every child find their voice remains a priority for the new Government. We look forward to working with the ministers to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality oracy education and grows up knowing that their voice has value.”