Oracy
Oracy is the ability to express ideas clearly and confidently through speaking and listening. In primary school, developing oracy helps children in many ways: it boosts their confidence, improves communication skills, supports learning across all subjects, and encourages critical thinking. By practicing oracy, children learn to listen carefully to others, share their own ideas effectively, and collaborate with their peers.
Our school is taking part in Voice 21, a national programme that supports schools in developing oracy skills. Voice 21 provides training, resources, and practical strategies to help teachers embed speaking and listening across the curriculum. Research and evidence from schools involved in Voice 21 show that developing oracy has a positive impact on children’s learning, confidence, and engagement. It helps them become more articulate, thoughtful, and resilient learners, ready to participate fully in school life and beyond.
How are we developing Oracy?
At St Benedict’s, every class begins the day with a discussion task, providing pupils with the opportunity to engage their thinking and build their communication skills. In these sessions, children are encouraged to listen carefully, build on each other’s ideas, challenge respectfully, and contribute their own thoughts, fostering a culture of collaborative learning. We have established discussion guidelines that help everyone remember how to listen thoughtfully, use language carefully, and express themselves clearly and respectfully. These sessions not only support academic learning but also help pupils develop critical thinking, confidence, empathy, and the ability to work constructively with others—skills that are essential both in school and in life beyond the classroom. By embedding discussion into daily routines, we nurture a community where every voice is valued and where ideas can grow through respectful dialogue.
We also build oracy opportunties into lessons through specific activities, questioning, and structured group work, giving children regular chances to speak, listen, and communicate their ideas effectively. These opportunities help pupils develop confidence, clarify their thinking, and learn how to express themselves clearly while collaborating with others, ensuring that strong communication skills are at the heart of all learning at St Benedict’s.
