We are a Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence 2026

We are proud to have been recognised as a Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence for our work in developing students' oracy (speaking, listening and communication) skills.

Becoming a Voice 21 Centre of Excellence certifies and celebrates that we are leading the way in providing a high-quality oracy education for students and acting as a beacon of good practice for over 1200+ Voice 21 Oracy Schools nationwide.

In Voice 21 Oracy Schools, students learn the oracy skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Why oracy matters?

Oracy, like reading, writing and arithmetic, is a foundational skill that ensures students thrive at school and in life.  By teaching students to become effective communicators, we empower them to better understand themselves, each other and the world around them.

• Speaking, listening, and communication skills are critical foundations for reading and writing.
• On average, oral language approaches have a high impact on pupil outcomes of 6 months’ additional progress.
• Young people with good communication skills are less likely to have mental health difficulties.
• Young people with good communication skills are less likely to have mental health difficulties.

As a Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence, we put oracy at the heart of our teaching and learning across all subject areas, enabling students to develop and deepen their knowledge and understanding through talk in the classroom.

We support our students to become articulate communicators who are able to present themselves confidently across a range of settings and contexts, from group discussions to formal presentations.

In Voice 21 Oracy Schools:

• 86% of students agree that it's important to be a good speaker and listener
• 77% of teachers said that oracy had boosted attainment.
• 79% of teachers said that oracy is an essential part of teaching and learning.

Find out more about oracy and Voice 21 here

About Voice 21

We believe that schools have the power to change a child’s life and create a fairer society. Oracy sets children up for success in school and life. Voice 21 supports schools to deliver high-quality oracy education by ensuring speaking, listening, and communication is part of the curriculum, teaching and wider school life.

Oracy is articulating ideas, developing understanding and engaging with others through speaking, listening and communication.  It supports children to get the best start in life and be ready to learn.

We work in the schools in which we can make the biggest difference. In Voice 21 schools, you will hear students solving problems collaboratively in maths and dissecting arguments in history, talking through conflicts in the playground and leading assemblies. Like literacy and numeracy, oracy is teachable. It is foundational for learning, work, creating healthy relationships with other people, and building stronger communities.