In our ongoing pursuit of developing students’ oracy skills, we have made significant changes to the way we approach Lower School assemblies. Inspired by the techniques showcased during the Evening of Oracy at the end of last academic year, our students have been working together to continue transferring these valuable communication skills into more formal settings. It is now an expectation that every time a student steps onto the stage, they meet the highest standards of expression and presentation.
A recent highlight was the 9S assembly on United Nations Day, where students took the lead in educating younger year groups about the importance of global cooperation and peace. What was most pleasing was not just the content of their message, but the confidence and skill with which it was delivered.
Students demonstrated clear evidence of their oracy development; they looked up and engaged with their audience, used purposeful pauses, incorporated expressive physicality, and spoke with a thoughtful awareness of tone and emphasis. These moments truly reflected the progress they have made and the value of embedding oracy at the heart of our school culture.
Every Year 9 form group will have the opportunity to lead an assembly this year, applying and refining their oracy skills in front of their peers. Next up is 9A, who will deliver an assembly on World Kindness Day in a few weeks’ time - a wonderful opportunity to continue this journey of confident communication.
You can watch a short clip of the Year 9 rehearsal here, which captures just some of these developing skills in action.
Oracy is a cornerstone of our PEAKS programme. You can find out more about PEAKS here.