Oracy at Thursby Primary School

At Thursby Primary School, we believe that spoken language underpins every aspect of learning. Our aim is to develop articulate, confident speakers who can express themselves clearly, listen with care and engage thoughtfully with others. Oracy is woven through all subjects so that every child has the opportunity to learn through talk and learn to talk.

We teach oracy explicitly and purposefully. Children learn how to speak in full sentences, explain ideas, ask questions, build on others’ contributions and use subject-specific vocabulary accurately. Classrooms are rich with structured talk, from paired discussions and debates to presentations, retellings and performances. Teachers model high-quality talk, support pupils to use sentence stems and guide them in developing clarity, confidence and respect when speaking and listening.

Across the curriculum, oracy strengthens understanding:

• In maths, children explain their reasoning.
• In science, they justify predictions and discuss results.
• In English, they rehearse ideas, explore vocabulary and perform texts.
• In history and geography, they share knowledge, debate interpretations and present findings.
• In EYFS, talk is central to play, storytelling and communication development.

We create an inclusive environment where every child’s voice is valued. Pupils are supported to participate equally, listen actively and express themselves with increasing independence.

Our aim is for children to leave Thursby able to speak confidently, listen thoughtfully and communicate effectively—skills that support learning now and open doors throughout their lives.