Oral Literacy
At our school, we recognise that strong speaking and listening skills are essential for success in education, employment and later life. We are committed to developing students’ confidence, communication and presentation skills through a wide range of structured opportunities embedded across the curriculum.
Oracy is not confined to any one subject. Students are regularly encouraged to articulate their thinking, engage in meaningful discussion, explain their reasoning, debate different viewpoints and present their ideas to others. Whether analysing a historical source, explaining a scientific concept, evaluating a piece of literature or presenting a design proposal, students are continually developing the communication skills needed to become confident and effective learners.
Speak Like a Specialist
A key aspect of our approach is our ‘Speak Like a Specialist’ initiative. Across all subject areas, students are encouraged to use the precise academic and disciplinary vocabulary associated with each subject. Teachers explicitly model and reinforce subject-specific language, enabling students to communicate their ideas accurately and confidently.
By speaking like historians, scientists, geographers, mathematicians, artists and writers, students develop a deeper understanding of their subjects while building the vocabulary needed to discuss complex ideas with increasing sophistication. This focus on academic language helps students to improve both their spoken and written communication and prepares them for further study and future employment.
SALAD Days
A distinctive feature of our oracy provision is our SALAD Days (Speaking And Listening Activity Days), which take place three times each year for students in Years 7 to 10.
During a SALAD Day, lessons are carefully planned to prioritise speaking and listening rather than written work- students find on these days that their lessons include further opportunities to collaborate, discuss, debate, present and solve problems together. Activities may include presentations, role play, teamwork challenges, structured discussions, group problem-solving tasks and formal debates.
During a SALAD Day, lessons are carefully planned to prioritise speaking and listening rather than written work- students find on these days that their lessons include further opportunities to collaborate, discuss, debate, present and solve problems together. Activities may include presentations, role play, teamwork challenges, structured discussions, group problem-solving tasks and formal debates.
These dedicated days encourage students to learn in different ways, often challenging them to step outside their comfort zones and develop greater confidence when communicating with others. They also provide opportunities for staff to use innovative teaching approaches that promote active participation and student voice.
SALAD Days have become a popular and valued part of our school calendar, creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm and engagement across the school. Students consistently report enjoying the opportunity to share ideas, work collaboratively and develop important social and communication skills in a supportive environment.
SALAD Days have become a popular and valued part of our school calendar, creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm and engagement across the school. Students consistently report enjoying the opportunity to share ideas, work collaboratively and develop important social and communication skills in a supportive environment.
The Impact of Oracy
Through our curriculum-wide commitment to speaking and listening, students develop:
✓ Confidence in expressing their ideas clearly and effectively.
✓ Active listening skills that enable them to respond thoughtfully to others.
✓ Subject-specific vocabulary and academic language.
✓ Presentation and public speaking skills.
✓ Teamwork, collaboration and leadership qualities.
✓ Critical thinking, reasoning and debating skills.
✓ Communication skills that support success across the curriculum and beyond school.
By embedding oracy in everyday classroom practice and through initiatives such as Speak Like a Specialist and SALAD Days, we aim to ensure that every student develops the confidence, vocabulary and communication skills required to thrive in school and in the wider world.