English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Category: Employability

  • ESB learners reaching their goals

    With Covid-19 still bringing many things to a standstill, we are excited to report that ESB International is open for business!

    Ofqual’s Extraordinary Regulatory Framework is enabling many of our centres to either see through their assessments in a new socially distancing format using technology or have their results calculated.

    Taking the Calculated Results route are many of our ESOL Skills for Life learners and our learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities taking our specifically designed qualifications. Our Speech learners have been offered the opportunity to go ahead with their assessments in an adapted format. Centres can choose to have their learners assessed by video conferencing, giving them the closest experience to their usual assessments. Alternatively, teachers can record their learners’ performances and submit the recordings to be assessed. Finally, learners can record their performances at home with their parents or guardians acting as amateur directors!

    Says ESB International’s Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw:

    I couldn’t be more pleased that these learners are still getting the opportunity to have their hard work rewarded. We have been in contact with more than 100 of our centres and their responses have been truly heart-warming. We are all finding new skills and new ways of working to make sure that our learners are not disadvantaged and that they receive the credit that they deserve.
    In preparation for our new adapted assessments, our assessors have been taking part in special training (socially distanced, of course!). We now have a team which is ready and raring to go and I am confident that the learners being assessed LIVE by video conference will enjoy the experience almost as much as when we visit them in person. Fortunately, with mobile phone and iPad cameras being so good these days, no special equipment is needed for those wishing to record themselves!
    We love getting out and about around the UK seeing our learners’ endeavour, energy and talent, but until we are able to do that again this is the next best thing and we are looking forward to making a big success of it!

    We would like to give a shout out to the following centres who will be calculating the results of their learners. They are:- Adult Learning Lewisham; Belfast Met; Bromley By Bow; Carwarden House School; City of Bristol College; College of North West London; Gateshead College; Joseph Chamberlain College; Liverpool Adult Learning Service; Sandwell College and Stanmore College.

    Our Speech centres who have elected adapted assessments include Bricklehurst Manor School; Ellowes Hall Sports College, Elms Studio; Queen’s Gate School, Weston College, Wilmslow Prep School, Maidstone Grammar for Girls, The Oratory Prep and private tutors David Purveur and Sally Arnold.

    Looking forward to a great set of results from you all!

  • ESB Launches New Speech Pathways

    We are delighted to announce that our ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4) qualification has been updated and you can start booking today! The qualification now gives more options to explore oracy in the classroom. Learners can develop their oracy skills in a way that suits them, playing to their strengths and interests.

    Mr Carl Bennett with the learners of Ellis Guilford who participated in the 2019 ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4) Pathways pilot.

    We have now implemented the following new Pathways to give greater flexibility to your learners – read about them below:

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    What do Learners and Teachers think of our new Pathways…

    To put our new Pathways to the test, we piloted them in 10 centres with over 300 learners and the results were impressive! These Pathways retain our core values that makes ESB an enjoyable learning experience, but add a new format of assessment with new learning outcomes. For each Pathway, learners improved their oracy skills in almost every category.

    Improves Communication Skills

    Teachers observed that an overwhelming 50% of learners felt that their communication skills had improved after their Pathways qualification, and there was a 44% increase increase in the number of learners who felt they became more competent in delivering short speeches and presentations.

    Boosts Employability

    The Speech for Employability proved a great success with participating schools. 75% of learners left feeling their communications in mock employment scenarios were ‘good’ or ‘very good’ – a dramatic improvement on just the 25% who felt they were at this level before the qualification.

    Mapped to the National Curriculum

    Our Level 2 (Grade 4) Pathways are designed to match the National Curriculum requirements in Spoken English at Key Stage 3 and 4. Teachers from the participating schools saw a dramatic increase in learners achieving the following KS3 criteria: discussing language and meaning, expressing own ideas and high competency in using Standard English competently.

    Personal Development

    The Pathways help teachers deliver Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, as well as the promotion of citizenship and British values. They also contribute learners’ Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development. The results prove that ESB qualifications benefit every learner, regardless of ability. In the Speech to Inform qualification, the number of learners who felt they had “bad” communication skills dropped by 50% after they had completed their assessment.

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    • Curriculum for Wales – The Pathways allow learners to meet the Statutory Oracy Requirements at Key Stages 3 and 4.
    • The Irish Curriculum – The Pathways meet the statutory communication related requirements for Language and Literature (English and Media) and Skills and Capabilities at Key Stages 3 and 4.

    We’re really excited to give your learners’ even more choice. They are available to book now!

  • Celebrating success in Salford: ESB presents RECLAIM teens with well-earned qualifications.

    If only all graduation ceremonies were as inspiring as this! Tina Renshaw, ESB Chief Executive, presented certificates to young learners from the Manchester-based charity RECLAIM to celebrate their fantastic achievement.

    Tina and two representatives from ESB followed in Morrissey’s footsteps up to the famous Salford Lads Club to congratulate the young learners on their completion of the Speech Pathways Pilot qualification, ‘Speech to Inform’. For the assessment, the learners are encouraged to review a current news item, give a persuasive talk about a topic that interests them and give a presentation about something they are passionate about.

    The youngsters, some of whom were initially afraid of standing up and speaking in front of their peers, chose topics ranging from climate change to feminism and all went on to pass their assessments.

    Said Tina, “I’m incredibly proud to meet the RECLAIM learners. These inspirational young women have now got a recognised qualification that proves they can speak clearly and with confidence.”

    By giving them a platform and an opportunity to get their voices heard, they can keep their heads held high, and with these skills under their belts, some of them may become leaders someday.

     

    The RECLAIM Graduates

     

    Katie Cosgrave, Alumni Lead at RECLAIM said after the event:

    After seeing the impact ESB has had on these young people, I feel it is incredibly important that we continue to do these qualifications here at RECLAIM. It demonstrates the clear need for oracy to be taught in schools as I truly believe communication is key to success, and I’m so proud to be a part of this pilot.

     

    To find out more about the work RECLAIM does for young working-class people, please visit their website: https://www.reclaim.org.uk/.

  • ESB welcomes the Oracy All-Party Parliamentary Group’s inquiry – Speak for Change.

    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. is supporting a new parliamentary inquiry Speak for Change, led by Emma Hardy MP, which is paving the way to improve oracy education in schools.

     

    As a member of The Oracy Network, ESB is proud to be part of a movement championing the value of good speaking and listening skills and the need for oracy to be reflected in educational policy making and curriculum development.

    There is a rapidly growing recognition of the importance of teaching children and young people to speak effectively and with confidence, in order to aid their learning and prepare them for life beyond school.  The Speak for Change inquiry will investigate the current provision of oracy education in the UK, assess its value and impact, and identify the barriers teachers are facing in embedding and prioritising oracy in school.

    An ESB team, led by Chief Examiner, Elaine Rudduck, attended the launch of the inquiry held in Parliament to speak to MPs and learners, and to meet with the Oracy Network to emphasise the importance of oracy for improving social mobility and job prospects for young people.

    Elaine Rudduck, Chief Examiner

    “Our qualifications develop confidence, improve communication skills, realise potential and recognise achievement with an accredited award, so we are incredibly proud to be part of the exciting conversations happening about oracy through The Oracy Network.” said Elaine.

    “It’s fantastic to see that oracy is starting to be recognised as a priority in education.”

    ESB’s primary objective is to promote clear communication across society – stretching the most able and supporting the least confident. Many of ESB’s Speech assessments are carried out in supportive listening groups, allow learners to choose study pathways which reflect their interests and strengths, and are designed to empower and support them as they find their voice. ESB shares the Oracy APPG’s vision to improve everyone’s ability to articulate their ideas, thereby creating greater opportunities for social mobility.

    One of the MPs at the launch was Tracy Brabin MP who said:

    Tracy Brabin MP

    I’ve seen first-hand the need for teaching oracy in schools. Many of the pupils in my Batley and Spen constituency have the academic skills but lack those key communication skills to help them progress, particularly as they apply to their chosen colleges or universities.

     

    MPs who are members of the Oracy APPG are calling on the education sector to have their say and submit evidence. The Oracy APPG need help to promote the inquiry to ensure they gather a wide range of views from across society and highlight how important oracy is for the next generation.

    A call for evidence is now open and the inquiry will welcome written and video submissions from across the education sector, industry and civil society. Most importantly, it will ensure the views of teachers, parents, children and young people are represented.

    If you feel passionately about oracy in your centre, or know someone in your network who does, please contact Deborah Bassett on deborah.bassett@esbuk.org to help spread the word and Speak for Change.