Oracy

What is Oracy?

At our school, we believe that talk helps children learn – and learning helps children talk.

Oracy is the ability to communicate ideas clearly, confidently, and thoughtfully through spoken language.

Developing strong oracy skills means children learn how to:

• Speak clearly and confidently, using their voice effectively.

• Listen carefully to others and respond respectfully.

• Think and reason aloud, explaining their ideas and understanding.

• Work and learn together, building on each other’s thoughts.

• Use language for different purposes, such as debating, performing, storytelling, or explaining.

Through oracy, children learn how to express themselves, build relationships, and develop confidence — skills that support success not only in school, but in life.

Why Oracy at Gayton?

At Gayton, we believe that oracy is fundamental to every student’s success. While our community has relatively few disadvantaged pupils, we recognise that high-quality spoken language skills benefit all learners. Explicitly teaching oracy enables students to think deeply, communicate with clarity, listen with respect, and engage confidently in academic and social contexts. Developing these skills enhances learning across the curriculum, supports wellbeing and inclusion, and prepares pupils to contribute thoughtfully to society. Oracy is therefore a vital element of our commitment to nurturing articulate, reflective, and empowered young people.

Our approach is inspired by Voice 21’s research, which highlights four key areas of oracy development:

• Physical – using the voice and body to communicate effectively.

• Linguistic – choosing the right words and sentences.

• Cognitive – organising ideas and reasoning clearly.

• Social & Emotional – listening, turn-taking, and showing empathy.

By building oracy into our lessons, we help our pupils find their voice — to speak with confidence, listen with care, and learn through talk.