Oracy

Intent

At Oxhey Wood Primary School, we believe that spoken language is the foundation of learning, thinking and social connection. Our intent is to develop all pupils into confident, articulate and reflective speakers and listeners who can communicate effectively across a wide range of contexts, audiences and purposes.

Through a carefully sequenced oracy curriculum from Early Years to Year 6, we ensure that pupils:

• Develop physical confidence in speaking clearly, audibly and with expression
• Use increasingly ambitious vocabulary and sentence structures
• Think critically, explain ideas, justify opinions and ask thoughtful questions
• Listen actively, respond respectfully and collaborate successfully

Our oracy curriculum supports pupils’ academic success, emotional wellbeing and future readiness, enabling every child to find and use their voice.

Implementation

Oracy is explicitly taught, modelled and practised daily across the school, guided by our Oracy Progression Map and aligned with Voice 21 principles.

Teaching and Learning

• Oracy skills are taught progressively across four strands:
  Physical, Linguistic, Cognitive and Social & Emotional
• Teachers explicitly model high-quality talk and listening
• Sentence stems, vocabulary banks and discussion protocols scaffold pupil talk
• Pupils are taught how to:
  • Take turns and listen attentively
  • Build, challenge and extend ideas
  • Adapt talk for audience and purpose
  • Use evidence and reasoning in discussion

Classroom Practice

• Structured partner, group and whole-class discussions are embedded across the curriculum
• Opportunities for presentational talk increase in frequency and complexity through the school as showcased through termly ‘speech cup’ presentations
• Role play, hot-seating, debate, storytelling, performances and leadership opportunities are planned intentionally
• Pupils regularly reflect on and evaluate their own and others’ talk

Curriculum Integration

• Oracy underpins reading, writing and wider curriculum learning
• Pupils speak for real purposes, including:
  • Performances and assemblies (e.g. Harvest assemblies, sustainability/eco committee,  KS1 and KS2 Christmas performance, year 5 Christmas play, Year 6 Leavers performance
  • Debates and elections
  • Interviews, presentations and peer teaching (e.g whole school weekly speech cup and winners assembly),
  • Leadership roles and mentoring younger pupils (e.g. Year 6 Junior leadership team, school council representations, eco committee, language ambassadors)

Teachers use the progression map to ensure consistency, progression and high expectations for all learners.

Impact

As a result of our oracy curriculum, pupils at Oxhey Wood Primary School:

• Speak with confidence, clarity and increasing fluency
• Use ambitious vocabulary and precise language
• Listen attentively and respond thoughtfully to others
• Explain ideas clearly, justify opinions and engage in purposeful discussion
• Adapt their speech to suit different audiences and contexts
• Demonstrate empathy, respect and collaboration in group work

By the end of Year 6, pupils can:

• Construct and deliver sustained, structured talk
• Respond spontaneously to questions using evidence
• Reflect critically on their own communication skills
• Enter secondary school as confident communicators and active learners

Oracy has a positive impact on academic outcomes, engagement, self-esteem and social development, ensuring pupils are prepared for the next stage of their education and life beyond primary school.