England Gives Oracy Equal Status with Reading and Writing
England’s Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, has announced that oracy will be given equal status with reading and writing in the national curriculum. The new approach aims to develop students’ speaking, listening, and effective self-expression skills more systematically throughout their education. The changes are expected to influence teaching practices and assessment approaches from primary through secondary education.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Confederation of School Trusts in Birmingham, Powell emphasized that oracy is important for students’ academic development and future lives. She noted that, at a time when artificial intelligence is transforming the ways people work and communicate, the ability to express ideas clearly, listen to others, and communicate effectively is becoming increasingly important.
One of the primary objectives of the new approach is to ensure that effective speaking skills are no longer an advantage associated with social and economic privilege. Powell explained that some students have greater opportunities to develop their self-expression skills through their families and social environments, potentially deepening inequalities in education. The government aims to ensure that all students can develop these skills by making oracy an explicit component of teaching and learning.