Why Oracy Matters: Giving Every Child a Voice in the Classroom
Empowering voices, inspiring minds
We talk a great deal about reading and writing — and rightly so. Literacy underpins every subject and every learner’s journey. Yet, one vital strand of literacy often slips quietly under the radar: oracy. The Curriculum and Assessment Review (2025) considers oracy to incorporate speaking, listening and communication, including verbal as well as other forms of non-written communication, such as sign language, non-verbal and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC).
As an educational consultant working with schools across the country, I see first-hand the transformative impact that purposeful talk and communication can have. When oracy is prioritised, it doesn’t just improve communication skills; it strengthens thinking, boosts confidence and raises attainment across the curriculum.
The Foundation of Learning
Before children can write well, they must be able to articulate their thoughts clearly. It is the rehearsal room for writing and reasoning. Through structured discussion, pupils learn to organise ideas, use evidence and respond thoughtfully to others. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) reinforces this: effective spoken language interventions can have a significant impact on progress, particularly in literacy.
Oracy and Equity
Oracy isn’t just a communication skill; it’s an equity issue. Children who can express themselves confidently are more likely to engage in learning, participate in debates and influence their futures. Too often, pupils are described as “quiet” or “reluctant” when in fact they haven’t yet been taught how to take part in meaningful dialogue.
Embedding oracy across the curriculum — not just in English lessons — helps to level the playing field. Whether in science, history or design technology, structured opportunities for discussion give every child a voice and a route into deeper understanding.
Beyond the Classroom
Strong oracy skills are life skills. They shape employability, relationships and civic participation. Employers repeatedly highlight communication as one of the most sought-after competencies. Schools that nurture oracy prepare their pupils not just for lessons or exams, but for life beyond them.
Practical Steps
Building a culture of oracy doesn’t require an overhaul — just a shift in mindset.
Model effective talk: Teachers can demonstrate how to articulate reasoning, use subject-specific vocabulary and challenge ideas respectfully.
Use talk structures: Strategies such as “think-pair-share”, “talk partners”, and “debate roles” ensure participation is equitable.
Create purposeful talk tasks: Ensure discussions have clear outcomes — to explore, evaluate or explain — so talk remains rigorous.
Celebrate progress: Recognise oracy in the same way you would written or reading progress.
Adopt a Whole-School Oracy Approach
A consistent, whole-school approach ensures that oracy isn’t left to chance or isolated lessons — it becomes part of the everyday learning culture. By providing staff with clear guidance, shared expectations and practical strategies, teachers feel confident to embed talk across all subjects.
Key elements include:
Clear school-wide frameworks: Define expectations for talk, including the use of vocabulary, reasoning and structured discussion.
Staff training and coaching: Offer regular professional development and collaborative planning time so teachers understand how to model, scaffold and assess oracy in their lessons.
Shared resources and strategies: Provide templates, sentence stems and discussion routines that teachers can easily apply- reduce planning time and workload.
Monitoring and celebration: Recognise and celebrate effective oracy practice, ensuring it’s valued as much as reading and writing across the curriculum.
A whole-school approach gives teachers the confidence and tools to make oracy a natural, embedded part of lessons, ensuring every pupil can participate meaningfully and develop as a confident communicator.
Final Thoughts
If literacy gives children the power to read and write the world, oracy gives them the confidence to speak it. As educators and leaders, we must make space for every voice — not only for learning purposes but to nurture thoughtful, articulate citizens.
It’s time we stop seeing oracy as an optional extra and start seeing it for what it truly is: the heartbeat of learning.
At Empowerment Consultancy, we help schools embed purposeful oracy across the curriculum — building confident speakers, active listeners and stronger learning communities. If your team is ready to give every pupil a voice, get in touch with Empowerment Consultancy. Together, we’ll strengthen the foundations of learning — one conversation at a time.
