English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Category: Learning

  • 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!

  • Raising the ‘Baa’ in Omagh

    Nathan Wilson brought a fantastic visual aid into Omagh High School for his ESB assessment – an adorable young lamb.
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    Nathan Wilson with his visual aids

    For his Level 1 Award in Speech, Nathan gave a lively presentation on ‘Sheep Farming’ before going onto recite William Blake’s ‘The Lamb’ from memory.

    His ESB Assessor, Ian Patterson was taken by surprise when Nathan’s visual aid came skipping into the classroom. Said Ian,

    Nathan really went the extra mile when it came to his captivating talk on ‘Sheep Farming’! This is a brilliant example of how a unique visual aid can really bring a talk to life.


    Nathan and his fellow ESB candidates all performed exceptionally well in their assessments, with each of them going on to receive Distinction grades.

    Find out more about our Speech qualifications here.

  • ESB is launching a new Speech pathways qualification

    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. has improved the single unit ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4) to give teachers and learners more options and flexibility to explore oracy in the classroom.
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    Speech Pathways

    Adding new pathway options will provide teachers with more options and the flexibility to explore oracy in the classroom in different contexts to suit the needs of their learners.

    ESB surveyed over 160 centres in relation to its portfolio of Speech qualifications. The results showed that schools would like greater choice for their learners and more opportunities for advancing their communication skills. ESB responded to this feedback by working on redesigning the ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4).

    The updated and improved qualification will contain three exciting new units for teachers to choose from. Please click here to see these pathway options in full.

    The new options include using speech to inform an audience, for performance, or for employability. The addition of these pathways options were formulated to ensure ESB’s portfolio of Speech qualifications remain relevant and accessible to all learners. 

    ESB has begun piloting the pathways qualification in a number of centres to see how teachers and learners respond to the new options before its launch in September 2019.

    Effective communication is crucial for young people in achieving success in education, employment and life, and ESB strive to ensure every learner is given the opportunity to realise their potential through oracy.

  • “Character and resilience” as important as GCSEs for young people says Damian Hinds

    The Education Secretary addressed the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership conference in London this morning to stress the importance of instilling confidence and character in every child.
    Damian Hinds, Secretary of State for Education

    Hinds declared that he wishes to “call time” on the phrase “public-school confidence”, arguing that such confidence should not be reserved for privately educated children only.

    Hinds went on to present his “five foundations to build character”: sport, creativity, performing, volunteering and membership and the world of work. He promises to increase schools’ access to these activities, ensuring that every child is given the opportunity to test themselves from a range of activities which all contribute to their overall character and resilience.

    With oracy skills playing a major role in all of Hinds’ “five foundations to build character” the initiative is warmly welcomed by English Speaking Board (International). ESB’s qualifications are specifically designed to boost pupils’ confidence through oracy.

    Says Tina Renshaw, Chief Executive,

    We strongly support the Education Secretary’s speech on “rethinking resilience” in schools. Our qualifications give young people the opportunity they need to realise their talent and self-worth, as well as giving them a structure of how to speak clearly and with confidence. We are excited to see character education spark interest in government decisions.

    Read about the projects ESB has carried out to raise achievement for learners in Stoke-on-Trent and in Plymouth and the South West.

    Find out more about Damian Hinds’ speech here https://www.tes.com/news/hinds-call-time-public-school-confidence.

    Follow our #RethinkingResilience conversation over on our Twitter page.