Oracy

Vision

At Cayley, we believe that oracy is a vital part of the curriculum. Developing confident, articulate speakers is as important as developing confident readers and writers. Through oracy, pupils learn to express their ideas clearly, listen attentively, and engage respectfully in discussion and debate. We aim to nurture pupils who can present, question, and collaborate effectively—skills that support learning across all subjects and prepare them for life beyond school.

Intent

The oracy curriculum is designed to develop pupils’ spoken language skills and their ability to communicate with confidence and clarity. Pupils learn to:

• participate in structured discussions, debates, and presentations
• use a range of spoken language techniques, including tone, pace, and vocabulary
• listen actively and respond thoughtfully to others
• collaborate effectively in pairs, trios, small groups, and whole-class settings
• reflect on and improve their speaking skills

Through oracy, pupils gain confidence, critical thinking, and the ability to express ideas persuasively, supporting success in all areas of learning.

Implementation

Oracy is embedded across the curriculum and reinforced in all subjects. Structured speaking opportunities include paired, trio, small group, and whole-class discussions. Oracy assemblies take place in the round, providing a safe and inclusive space for pupils to develop presentation and discussion skills. Scaffolds, including discussion guidelines and spoken language stems, are provided in every classroom to support all learners.

The school actively contributes to best practice in oracy through leadership in the Tower Hamlets Oracy Hub, led by our deputy headteacher. This network of 30 primary schools collaborates to develop resources, strategies, and assessment for oracy across the borough. Cayley has achieved the Tower Hamlets Bronze Award in recognition of the quality of oracy provision at the school.

Impact

Pupils develop confidence, fluency, and clarity in spoken language. They are able to participate thoughtfully in discussion and debate, present ideas effectively, and collaborate with peers. Oracy skills support learning across all subjects, enhancing reasoning, vocabulary, and critical thinking.

Progress is assessed through:

• observation of discussion, debate, and presentation skills across lessons and assemblies
• peer and self-assessment using structured oracy rubrics and prompts
• teacher feedback on communication, collaboration, and confidence

We are now aiming to embed oracy further across the school to help  our pupils to become confident communicators, ready to express ideas, listen to others, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.