The Wood Foundation’s Excelerate investment is a community-connected approach for schools which develops learning and teaching methods – including oracy.
Our oracy practitioner training – which consisted of four sessions and was attended by more than 80 educators this year – was developed and delivered by practitioners from across our Excelerate partner schools in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Angus, with endorsement from Oracy Cambridge.
Developments in oracy in the North East align with a growing UK and international recognition of the importance of educating young people to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language.
Our training focused on dialogic teaching, oracy education, collaborative group work and listening skills. Each session included practical examples that can be used in the classroom to introduce and build oracy practice into everyday teaching and learning.
Alongside Excelerate Associate Oracy Trainers, a network of Oracy Leads and practitioners is being trained in our partner schools to develop practice and whole-school approaches, ensuring the art of talking and listening is as intentionally developed as literacy and numeracy.
The benefits of oracy skills extend beyond academic achievement and employability, enhancing social, emotional, and interpersonal skills. Oracy empowers young people with the confidence to speak up, express their ideas, and ensure their voices are heard as advocates both for themselves and those around them.