Oracy at Oldfield Brow

Oldfield Brow is proud to be a Voice 21 Oracy School.

Linking closely with our school value of 'collaboration', we see oracy as an important foundation of ensuring that our children can "thrive in a changing world" (School Vision, 2023) by finding their voice and being confident enough to share their ideas.

What is Oracy?

Voice 21 defines oracy as "the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language".

What is our vision for Oracy at Oldfield Brow?

Oldfield Brow Primary School’s purpose is to inspire the exceptional potential of all members of our school community by empowering confident, independent learners who have the right attitude and knowledge to thrive in a changing world. We aim for every child, regardless of their background, to find and use their voice for success in school and in life beyond.

School Values: To achieve this vision, we expect all members of our school community to be:

RESPECT – Pupils learn to listen attentively, value diverse viewpoints and communicate with kindness and empathy as respectful global citizens.

REFLECTION – Children develop the ability to evaluate their own communication, respond thoughtfully to feedback and show resilience as they refine their speaking and listening skills.

INNOVATION – We encourage pupils to be creative in how they express their ideas, solve problems through talk and embrace challenge as innovative thinkers.

COLLABORATION – Through structured talk, pupils learn to work effectively with others, building shared understanding and becoming skilled, cooperative team members.

ASPIRATION – We empower children to aspire to excellence in communication, recognising that their voice has the potential to shape their learning, relationships and future pathways.

Our Oracy Curriculum Intent

Through high-quality teaching, a language-rich environment and purposeful opportunities to talk, we nurture pupils who can express themselves fluently, listen actively and engage respectfully with others. By the time they leave Oldfield Brow, our pupils will be able to adapt their talk for different audiences and situations, articulate and justify their ideas, and participate meaningfully in discussions, debates and collaborative tasks. They will understand that their voice matters and that communication is a powerful tool for both learning and positive social contribution.

Our Oracy vision links closely with our school's wider vision and values which can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Why does a high-quality Oracy education matter?

Research shows that a high-quality oracy education is vital to not only improve the academic outcomes of our learners but also to foster their confidence and wellbeing.

Spoken language skills are one of the strongest predictors of a child’s future life chances but too many children are not given the opportunity to develop these crucial skills. At Oldfield Brow, we are keen to ensure that this does not happen to any pupil and will ensure that oracy is a key thread across all areas of our school's approach.

Discussion Guidenlines

Our discussion guidelines aim to support our children in talking effectively, enabling them to express their thoughts and ideas clearly. We encourage parents to engage in meaningful conversations with their children, fostering an environment where discussion thrives. By actively participating in dialogues at home, you can help reinforce the importance of communication and critical thinking, ensuring that your child develops the confidence to articulate their views in various settings.

Phase 1 (Nursery and Reception)	Phase 2 (Year 1-3)	Phase 3 (Years 4-6)

How are we designing our 'Oracy Curriculum' at Oldfield Brow?

Our Oracy curriculum is underpinned by the Oracy Framework developed by Voice 21. This framework consists of four key strands: physical, linguistic, cognitive, and social and emotional.

Through a high-quality Oracy education we teach pupils to learn through talk and to talk. The learner-friendly Oracy Frameworks are implemented throughout the school, with each new framework building on the skills from the previous one, gradually introducing more challenging objectives and increasingly complex vocabulary.

By using well-planned, modelled, and scaffolded talk in the classroom, we enhance our learners' subject knowledge and understanding alongside developing their oracy skills.

Oracy Progression at Oldfield Brow

How is Oracy taught at Oldfield Brow?

Teachers across school ensure that talk is purposeful, planned, and explicitly taught (PPE). We use a variety of groupings to support different types of talk within the classroom.

For example, "Nesting" is a reflective, preparatory stage where students have time to think, formulate their thoughts and rehearse in their mind what they want to say.

Paired Talk involves two people discussing a concept, sharing ideas, or preparing for larger group discussions. This builds from the my turn, your turn model we use within our Read, Write Inc. sessions.

Traverse Talk occurs when the group is split into two parallel lines facing each other, and pupils interact with their opposite partner. This method facilitates structured conversations, ensuring that each participant has the opportunity to speak with someone different, giving the opportunity for a range of social interactions and ensuring every voice is valued.

The image below illustrates the wide range of groupings we use across school: