Oracy Curriculum

Our Oracy Vision and Curriculum Intent

At Little Waltham Church of England Primary School, we believe that speaking and listening skills (oracy) are fundamental to preparing our pupils for the future. By developing confident communicators, we equip children to succeed in education and later life.

Our oracy curriculum is driven by a strong moral purpose, focused on building character and helping every child reach their full potential. It is rooted in our Christian ethos and core values of compassion, perseverance, forgiveness, and courage.

Why Oracy Matters

Becoming articulate speakers and active listeners enhances our pupils’ life chances. Research shows that a high-quality oracy education not only improves academic outcomes, but also fosters children’s confidence and wellbeing. Spoken language skills are one of the strongest predictors of a child’s future success (voice21.org).

By prioritising oracy, we give every pupil the opportunity to find their voice, express themselves clearly, and engage with the world around them.

Oracy, Character, and Values

Developing oracy skills also develops our pupils’ personal growth and character. In learning to communicate, children practice empathy and compassion – listening to others’ viewpoints and speaking respectfully. They demonstrate perseverance as they refine and redraft presentations or learn a new poem, and show courage when performing or speaking in front of an audience. We foster a supportive atmosphere, where our pupils understand mistakes are part of learning and they feel safe to take risks in their speaking. Through discussions, class debates, and reflective conversations, pupils learn to use their voice with integrity and purpose. For example, our 2025 Speech Festival’s theme “Voices for Change” encourages children to talk confidently about causes and issues important to them and our community, teaching them to use their voices to make a positive difference.

Oracy Skills and Framework

We take a structured approach to teaching speaking and listening. Our staff use the established Oracy Framework (developed by Voice 21, a national oracy education charity) which highlights four key strands of oracy. We explicitly teach and practice skills in each strand:

Physical: Using vocal skills (volume, clarity, tone) and body language (eye contact, facial expressions, posture) to communicate effectively.
Linguistic: Developing a rich vocabulary, correct grammar, and expressive language choices appropriate to the context.
Cognitive: Organising ideas logically, reasoning and giving explanations, asking questions, and clarifying understanding.
Social & Emotional: Listening actively, taking turns in conversation, building confidence in speaking, and adapting to the needs of the audience.

These skills are woven through our Oracy Progression Map, which sets age-appropriate goals for each year group from Early Years to Year 6. This ensures that as pupils move up the school, they continually build on prior knowledge and skills, becoming more adept and sophisticated speakers by the time they leave us.

Opportunities to Develop Oracy

Oracy is embedded across school life at Little Waltham. We provide many opportunities for pupils to practice and showcase their speaking and listening skills:

Speech Festival: An annual event where pupils prepare and deliver short speeches on topics they are passionate about. This helps them build confidence, improve clarity, and learn that their voice can inspire others.
Poetry Slam: A creative and collaborative event in which children perform selected poetry – using expressive voices and intonation. This develops a love of language and provides an opportunity for public speaking in a supportive setting.
Class Assemblies: Regular assemblies led by each class give every child a chance to speak, present, or act in front of the school and parents. Pupils take pride in sharing their learning while gaining experience speaking to a large audience.
School Productions: Through drama, our pupils learn to project their voices and engage an audience. Events include the Year 4 performance of Macbeth and the end-of-Key Stage 2 production in Year 6, where children memorise lines, convey emotion, and work collaboratively on stage.

Through these activities, pupils apply their oracy skills in real-world contexts – whether reciting a poem, explaining a science project, or debating an issue. Our pupils learn to communicate with clarity, passion, and confidence. These experiences also reinforce our values: children show courage and perseverance in performance, compassion when collaborating with peers, and celebrate each other’s efforts in a spirit of forgiveness and support.

Looking Ahead

Through our commitment to oracy, we are preparing our children to be articulate, thoughtful individuals ready for their next steps in education and beyond. As they progress through Little Waltham Primary School, they develop a positive self-image as speakers and active listeners, which will serve them well in secondary school, future careers, and in their lives as caring, responsible citizens. In this way, our Oracy vision is not just about speaking in school – it is about empowering every child with the confidence, character, and skills to use their voice for good.