Our expert panel discuss what oracy is, why it matters, and the impact we have seen on pupils’ speaking skills since Covid.
We look at how we can teach oracy in the classroom and across the curriculum, including practical activities for the explicit teaching of oracy as well as ideas for authentic opportunities to encourage talk.
We consider the role of vocabulary teaching, ask what high expectations for classroom talk look like, and hear examples of practice from two primary schools.
And we address the important differences between “learning to talk” and “learning through talk” and the vital role of developing listening as well as speaking skills.
We discuss whole-school strategies, including creating a culture where pupils feel able to speak-up, cross-curriculum planning for oracy, how to ensure consistent approaches, staff CPD, the role of extra-curricular clubs, and more.
And we look at how we can engage parents in this work while also considering how we can best assess and monitor our pupils’ progress in terms of oracy.
This podcast has been produced in partnership with Pearson. Visit www.pearsonprimary.co.uk/podcast
The host of this episode is Pete Henshaw, the editor of Headteacher Update. His guests are:
- Maxine Low is executive headteacher at Brooklands Farm Primary School. Brooklands Farm has more than 1,200 pupils aged 3 to 11 on roll and is split across two sites in Milton Keynes. The school holds the Voice 21 Centre of Excellence Award for its oracy education.
- Tenisha Jones is deputy headteacher at St John's and St Clement's CE Primary School in London, although her contributions to the podcast will also be based on work undertaken in her previous role as assistant headteacher at Loughborough Primary School in south London. Tenisha has undertaken a raft of work focused on oracy, including training alongside Voice 21 and focusing in particular on disadvantaged pupils with limited vocabulary.
- Nicola Romaine is the national primary literacy advisor at Pearson. She is a primary English specialist, teacher, adviser, coach and trainer.
- Topsy Page is the author of Oracy: 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers and is an Oracy Cambridge Associate. She works with schools to develop a culture of oracy across the curriculum. She is a former primary school teacher and assistant headteacher.
You can listen to this episode of the Headteacher Update Podcast above. To hear other Headteacher Update podcasts or to subscribe for free search for 'The Headteacher Update Podcast' in your podcast streaming application. Or visit www.headteacher-update.com/podcast
For details about appearing on The Headteacher Update Podcast, email editor Pete Henshaw at pete.henshaw@markallengroup.com