4
Oracy
The theme for this term’s secondary subject network meetings is oracy.
In the early 1990s the National Oracy Project was set up ‘to support changes in pedagogical practice which benefited pupils’ oral work and learning.’ (Thinking Voices, ed Norman, K. 1992)
This focus was maintained in the 2011 report of the Expert Panel for the National Curriculum review, which concluded ‘The implication of our understanding of the significance of oracy is that, whilst it should find a particular place within the National Curriculum for English, it should also be promoted more widely as an integral feature of all subjects. Encouraging higher levels of quality discourse and its associated cognitive development is not solely an issue for the subject of English.’
The inclusion of oracy in recent political discussions has again pushed it back to the top of the agenda. This term we aim to contribute to this important field by recording pieces with subject leaders from across the secondary curriculum areas on how they are building oracy into their classrooms, along with other pieces about the overall leadership of oracy in schools.
