Oracy

At Ripon Cathedral School, oracy is at the heart of excellent teaching and learning, equipping children with the skills to become articulate, respectful and confident.

Oracy definition

At Ripon Cathedral School, we define oracy as the set of talking and listening skills that people should develop in the same way we would expect people to develop reading and writing skills; the teachable set of competencies to do with spoken language.

With reference to the work of Professor Neil Mercer, Cambridge University

Rationale

We believe that speaking and listening skills are fundamentally vital for success, both in learning and in life. Research shows that oracy skills are one of the strongest indicators for success later in life, impacting on academic achievement, employability, confidence and self-esteem. At Ripon Cathedral School, we believe that all children should be given the opportunity to develop these skills as a fundamental element of our curriculum.

Aims and objectives

To ensure that oracy is at the heart of excellent teaching across the curriculum
To raise attainment across the curriculum by adopting an oracy-rich approach to teaching and learning
To empower children to become confident, articulate and effective communicators in a range of contexts
For children to become effective and generous listeners
For children to value the contributions of others and take account of their views