Oracy
Oracy Lead: Miss L. Weaver
Oracy Champions: Miss A. Askew (KS1) Mr L. Wong (KS2)
Empowering all learners to succeed through communication
At Whiston Willis Primary Academy, we believe every child should have the opportunity to find their voice. Oracy develops pupils' ability to speak, listen and communicate effectively, enabling them to articulate ideas, deepen their thinking and engage confidently with others.
Oracy is embedded across our curriculum and supports the spoken language expectations of the National Curriculum. Pupils are explicitly taught how to learn to talk and learn through talk, with opportunities to discuss, explain, question, reason, present and debate across different subjects.
Our Approach
Our approach is informed by the Voice 21 Oracy Framework, which develops four interconnected areas: physical, linguistic, cognitive, and social and emotional skills. Oracy is progressively developed from EYFS to Year 6 and embedded within teaching across the curriculum.
Oracy forms an important part of our whole-school pedagogical approach and six-part lesson structure. Informed by Rosenshine's Principle's of Instruction, teachers use purposeful questioning, modelling, partner talk, discussion and verbal rehearsal to check understanding, activate prior knowledge and support pupils in developing and articulating their thinking.
As a Righting Respting School, we use oracy to strengthen pupil voice and participation. Pupils learn to express their views confidently, listen respectfully to others, consider different perspectives and contribute constructively to their school and wider community.
Discussion Guidelines
Discussion Guidelines support high-quality classroom talk. They help create a safe and inclusive environment in which pupils understand how to listen, contribute, challenge ideas respectfully and build upon the contributions of others.
Listening Wheel
Our Listening Wheel explicitly develops the skills required for effective speaking and active listening. It helps pupils understand and apply the different listening behaviours associated with the four strands of the Oracy Framework.
