Intent – What are we trying to achieve?

At St Mary’s, we believe that spoken language is fundamental to learning, relationships, and future success. Our Oracy curriculum aims to develop pupils’ confidence, fluency, and ability to express themselves clearly, while listening and responding thoughtfully to others.

We want all pupils to:

• Speak with confidence, clarity, and purpose in a range of contexts.

• Listen actively, showing respect and understanding for others’ viewpoints.

• Use ambitious and precise vocabulary to express ideas and reasoning.

• Understand how body language, tone, and audience awareness influence communication.

• Engage constructively in discussion, debate, performance, and presentation.

Through a strong emphasis on Oracy, we aim to ensure that every child’s voice is valued and heard, empowering them to become articulate, reflective, and respectful communicators—skills that support success across the curriculum and beyond.

Implementation – How do we translate our vision into practice?

At St Mary’s, we are currently working towards Voice 21 Oracy School membership, which supports us in embedding a consistent, research-informed approach to developing Oracy across the curriculum. Our practice is also guided by the National Oracy Framework, ensuring that progression in speaking and listening is clearly mapped and systematically developed throughout the school.

Teachers model high-quality spoken communication and plan purposeful opportunities for talk within every subject. Pupils engage in a variety of Oracy activities including discussions, debates, storytelling, drama, assemblies, and presentations.

Using the Voice 21 Oracy Framework, pupils are explicitly taught to develop skills across four key strands:

• Physical – using voice, tone, and body language to communicate effectively.

• Linguistic – developing vocabulary, grammar, and expressive language.

• Cognitive – organising ideas, reasoning clearly, and building structured responses.

• Social and Emotional – listening actively, showing empathy, and contributing confidently in group situations.

We are committed to making communication accessible for all pupils. To support understanding and expression, we useMakaton signs and Widgit symbols throughout the school environment and in lessons. This visual and inclusive approach helps children with additional communication needs to participate fully, promotes consistent language support across settings, and benefits all learners by reinforcing key vocabulary and concepts.

Teachers plan explicit Oracy outcomes alongside curriculum content to ensure that talk is used as a powerful tool for thinking, learning, and demonstrating understanding.

Impact – What is the impact of our curriculum on the children?

By the time pupils leave St Mary’s, they will be confident, articulate communicators who can express themselves clearly, listen respectfully, and respond thoughtfully. They will understand the power of speech in learning, collaboration, and positive relationships.

Through lesson observation, pupil voice, and participation in Oracy-rich activities, we can see that children:

• Speak confidently and clearly in a range of formal and informal settings.

• Use a wide vocabulary and structured language to explain, reason, and persuade.

• Demonstrate strong listening and turn-taking skills.

• Engage respectfully and thoughtfully with others’ ideas.

Our developing Voice 21 approach, combined with guidance from the National Oracy Framework, ensures that all pupils at St Mary’s gain the communication skills, confidence, and empathy needed to succeed academically and socially, preparing them for secondary education and the wider world.