Voice 21 welcomes Ofsted’s acknowledgement of the foundational role of oracy in the new Education inspection framework. In the framework, oracy is set out as a key foundational skill, and is given the same weight as numeracy and literacy. Ofsted have adopted the Oracy Education Commission’s definition of oracy, which is an important step towards achieving a consistent and shared understanding of oracy across the education sector. 

“All pupils are explicitly taught how to communicate effectively through spoken language (oracy), articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through speaking, listening and communication.”

For schools that prioritise oracy education, how Ofsted recognises it in reports has long been a lottery. At our Voice 21 Oracy Centres of Excellence, some reports highlight oracy as a clear strength, while others omit it altogether despite it being a key focus of the school.

“The school continues to excel in its work with pupils’ oracy. Pupils show high levels of confidence when talking about their learning and achievements. This is a strength of the school.” 

“Teachers encourage and intentionally teach all pupils to communicate effectively in speech. Pupils share their ideas and opinions clearly, and this helps deepen learning. It has also helped them win a local public speaking competition involving other schools.” 

Recognition of oracy as a foundational skill, with a clear definition that is widely used across the sector, is a good starting point. We hope to see a more consistent approach applied across inspections as a result. To enable this, schools and inspectors need a robust, shared understanding of what constitutes a high-quality oracy education: in Voice 21 Oracy Schools, this is supported by the use of the Oracy Framework and Oracy Benchmarks. We look forward to working with government, academics, researchers and organisations across the sector to develop a shared, evidence-based framework for oracy in our schools.