Oracy

Intent

At Bowes, we believe that spoken language is an essential tool for our pupils to become successful and confident future citizens, irrespective of their background or circumstance. 

A developed competency in oracy democratises knowledge and therefore opportunity, allowing all children to have the skills necessary to reach their full potential. Oracy is embedded throughout our whole school curriculum and wider enrichment opportunities and underpins all that we do. Teachers set high expectations and model the correct use of oracy for our pupils to allow them to become self-assured speakers for a range of different purposes and audiences. Teaching a set of core skills which progress throughout their time at Bowes, allows children to develop year on year.

All teachers in the school are familiar with Voice 21's oracy ‘Teacher Benchmarks’ which include: setting high expectations for talk, valuing every child’s voice, teaching oracy explicitly throughout the curriculum, harnessing oracy to elevate learning and appraising progress in oracy. Through these, the school further develops a culture of oracy across Bowes from our EYFS through to KS2.

We teach a range of skills that will enable pupils to develop their speaking, through the following strands: physical, linguistic, cognitive and social emotional. It is important for children to learn the fundamental speaking and listening skills which will help support them in all areas of their learning.

 

Implementation

Teachers implement a range of activities within the classroom that enable pupils to learn through talk and learn to talk. Pupils have a variety of oracy opportunities both exploratory and presentational. 

All lessons allow for planned exploratory talk opportunities and pupils are confident in using their ‘Talk Tactics’ to build on and challenge the ideas of others. In KS2, there are also planned opportunities for presentational talk throughout the curriculum, ensuring pupils develop their confidence and are prepared for their future. As part of the curriculum and in enrichment activities, pupils are given the opportunity to debate, present and prepare to publicly speak in a range of contexts and audiences.

Oracy skills (from our oracy progression map) are taught explicitly, referred to specifically and developed throughout lessons.

Pupils are exposed to and develop a high level of vocabulary by learning new, ambitious words each week. These words are introduced and referred to at the start of each lesson and are built on over time. 

 

Impact

With oracy as a key priority and focus, pupils are able to express themselves in a variety of contexts and can share their ideas; listen to those of others; build on ideas; challenge others respectfully and are willing to change their viewpoint. 

The impact of teaching oracy: 

• Increases pupil confidence in all areas of the curriculum
• Improves academic outcomes
• Fosters wellbeing
• Gives the essential skills for children to thrive in life beyond school.
• Promotes social equity

Pupils with developed oracy skills are able to use language to communicate confidently, fluently and articulately. With this aspect of cultural capital, our pupils are enabled to positively contribute to their society both now and in the future.