Oracy and Voice 21
Oracy at Fairfield — A Voice 21 Centre of Excellence
Fairfield High School for Girls is proud to be a Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence. Speaking and listening sit at the heart of our curriculum, helping pupils deepen their understanding, express their ideas and participate confidently in school life. This commitment brings our Fairfield value “Find your voice and believe in yourself” into everyday learning. Oracy means communicating effectively through spoken language. It involves explaining ideas clearly, listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions and considering different viewpoints. We teach pupils both how to communicate and how to use discussion to develop their thinking.
Our vision for oracy
At Fairfield, our vision is for every pupil to find their voice and use it with confidence, purpose and respect. Oracy supports our ambition to develop successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens.
Successful learners use talk to deepen their understanding. By explaining their thinking, asking questions and building on others’ ideas, pupils strengthen their knowledge and develop more precise vocabulary. Discussion helps them explore different interpretations, identify misconceptions and prepare thoughtful written responses.
Confident individuals believe that their voices matter. Through supportive classroom routines and opportunities to present to different audiences, pupils learn to express their ideas, communicate their needs and speak with increasing independence. We want every pupil to feel equipped to contribute in further education, employment and everyday life.
Responsible citizens listen with care and engage respectfully with different perspectives. Pupils learn to question evidence, challenge ideas constructively and discuss complex issues thoughtfully. Through pupil leadership, community projects and public speaking, they practise using their voices to represent others and contribute positively to society.
At the heart of classroom learning
Oracy sits alongside reading, writing and vocabulary at the centre of our Fairfield Expert Teaching Cycle. Across subjects, teachers plan opportunities for pupils to rehearse explanations, explore challenging ideas and use subject vocabulary accurately. Our shared approaches help pupils participate with confidence:
- Turn and Talk gives pupils time to think through ideas with a partner before sharing with the class or developing a written response.
- Talk Tactics teach pupils to build on contributions, probe for evidence, clarify meaning, challenge respectfully and summarise key ideas.
- Discussion guidelines establish expectations for attentive listening, fair participation and respect for different opinions.
- Explicit vocabulary teaching helps pupils understand important words and practise using them in meaningful explanations.
As one Year 7 pupil explained: “Turn and Talk helps me think before I answer — I’m less nervous.”
Speaking and thinking like subject experts
Pupils learn that effective communication takes different forms across the curriculum. In science, they explain how to use a microscope using precise terminology and summarise the properties of ionic compounds. In food lessons, they explore vocabulary such as “ultra-processed” and use it to explain their understanding. In mathematics, pupils justify their reasoning and explain their methods. Maths Circles extend these opportunities through small groups where pupils explore mathematical ideas collaboratively. Teachers develop these approaches through professional learning, supported by oracy ambassadors. Curriculum reviews, lesson visits and feedback from pupils and staff help us evaluate how effectively talk supports learning.
Our Head of Science describes the difference: “Pupils are more articulate, more confident, and more accurate in their use of scientific language.”
Real audiences and meaningful opportunities
Pupils apply their skills through classroom presentations, pupil-led assemblies and opportunities beyond school. Through First Give, pupils speak persuasively about charities and causes that matter to them. The Young Green Briton Challenge provides opportunities to present environmental solutions and answer judges’ questions. Pupils have also showcased technology projects through the Rio Ferdinand Foundation and Phoenix, participated in the Willow Wood Enterprise Challenge, and contributed to a Greater Manchester Combined Authority Youth Voice event. These experiences help pupils see how their voices can influence decisions and make a contribution to their communities.
We want every pupil to feel heard and valued. Our approach aims to reduce barriers to participation, including for disadvantaged pupils, pupils with SEND and those learning English as an additional language. Preparation time, structured discussion and language prompts help pupils develop confidence from their individual starting points. Heritage Day, pupil-led assemblies and “Who am I?” activities celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity, giving pupils opportunities to share their experiences and learn from one another.
The difference we see
Our evaluation of four years of oracy development identifies stronger classroom participation, more purposeful discussion and greater involvement in formal presentations. In our 2025 pupil survey, 95% of Year 7 pupils and 91% of pupils in both Years 8 and 9 agreed that they regularly have opportunities to talk about their learning in lessons. External visitors have also recognised this culture.
“Every student knew their voice was valued.” Voice 21 visitor
Through everyday discussion and opportunities to address wider audiences, we help pupils develop the knowledge and confidence to explain their thinking, listen with understanding and speak for themselves.
