Oracy October is Voice 21’s month-long celebration of the importance of oracy education. Throughout the month, we’ll be convening the latest thinking, research and practice in oracy education and showcasing the work of schools across the country that have seen first-hand the value of prioritising oracy education.
This year’s theme is ‘When talk gets challenging’ and explores how we can empower young people to talk effectively in challenging contexts, both in the classroom and beyond. This includes discussing a difficult or sensitive topic in class, sharing your feelings or speaking in front of an audience. By equipping students with the oracy skills they need to navigate challenging contexts for talk we can build their confidence and prepare them for success in school and in life.
That’s why, throughout October, we’ll be helping teachers give their students the tools needed for when talk gets challenging. We’ll be releasing a brand-new, free resource for teachers featuring ideas and activities for students of all ages. It will include 5 challenges for students to complete throughout October, giving them the opportunity to develop and display the skills needed to navigate a range of challenging contexts for talk. This will help teachers use the month to encourage students to become confident, flexible and resilient communicators in a range of situations.
We’ll also be hosting 7 free webinars over the course of October, highlighting the transformative impact oracy has made to student outcomes in our national network of Voice 21 Oracy Schools. Featuring webinars for those newer to oracy, including how to get started with oracy in each key stage, as well as discussions about oracy’s role in education policy, assessment and school leadership, the month will be packed full of insightful, stimulating and inspiring learning experiences.
Sign up for our free resources and events below.
3 October, 3.45-4.45pm
Have you heard about the difference oracy education could make to your students’ learning and life chances, but don’t know how to get started? Join us and some of our leading schools in this webinar, tailored to KS1&2.
3 October, 3.45-4.45pm
Have you heard about the difference oracy education could make to your students’ learning and life chances, but don’t know how to get started? Join us and some of our leading schools in this webinar, tailored to KS3&4.
17 October, 3.45-4.45pm
This practical session aims to support primary and secondary teachers in developing the ‘Art of Argument’ with young people. Led by Will Ord who has trained thousands of teachers in over 20 countries and was Chair of SAPERE.
31 October, 3.45-4.45pm
Following our ‘Voicing Vocabulary’ project, which demonstrated how students’ progress in reading is accelerating through high-quality oracy education, we showcase the impact of an oracy-rich approach to vocabulary development.
5 October, 3.45-4.45pm
In recent months oracy education has received increased attention from the major political parties, so we ask – what would an education system that prioritised oracy look like? With a General Election on the horizon, we discuss how to implement oracy in education policy effectively.
12 October, 3.45-4.45pm
The assessment of oracy has long been a thorny issue. The rise of AI and calls to reform our examination system lend new urgency to old questions: Can oracy be assessed fairly, or is it ‘just too subjective’? What genres of talk can be assessed, and in what contexts?
19 October, 3.45-4.45pm
Hear from Oracy Leaders in Voice 21 Oracy Schools and explore the vital role that leadership plays in embedding oracy education across a whole school, as well as what our research says about how this can be done most effectively.
Alice Stott, Director of Programmes at Voice 21, will set the scene with the evidence for oracy, exploring why developing students’ speaking and listening skills is so crucial to their learning and life chances.
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