English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Category: Speech

  • Notice to Centres: revised specifications for ESB Level 3 Certificate in Speech (Grades 6 & 8)

    Notice for all ESB Speech UK and International centres:

    Following a review of our Level 3 Speech qualifications, we have made some changes to the grade descriptors at Grade 6 and Grade 8. It is no longer necessary for learners to memorise their texts for the Literature Interpretation at Grade 6 or the literary recommendation at Grade 8.

    Furthermore, the wording of seven grade descriptors at Grade 8 have been amended to make them clearer, more consistent and fairer for learners. This is following feedback from tutors, learners and assessors and reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring that our learners gain the vital communication skills that will enable them to thrive in education and work.

    These changes apply for all assessments from October 2024. Please see the specifications and the teacher resources on our website https://esbuk.org/web/our-teacher-resources/speech-resources/teacher-resources-for-graded-examinations-in-speech-advanced/ .

  • Funding Information

    The Department for Education (DfE) has recently carried out an exercise to streamline the number of qualifications available for government funding. 

    This is to confirm that, from 1st August 2022, the following English Speaking Board (International) Ltd (ESB International) qualifications will no longer be available for government funding:

    • ESB Entry Level Award in Introducing Oral Skills for Interviews (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Art (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Drama (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Music (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Others (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Developing Independent Communication Skills (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Developing Oral Interview Skills (Entry 2)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in First Steps in Communicating with Others (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Independent Communication Skills (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Inspiring Confidence in Employability (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Inspiring Confidence in Employability (Entry 2)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Inspiring Confidence in Employability (Entry 3)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Oral Communication in the Community (Entry 2)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Oral Communication with Others (Entry 1)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Oral Interview Skills (Entry 3)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Preparing for Performing Within a Team (Entry 2)
    • ESB Entry Level Award in Reading to a Child (Entry 3)
    • ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 5)
    • ESB Level 2 Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life
    • ESB Level 3 Award in Travel and Tourism for Oral Communication Skills for Overseas Resort Representatives

    You can find out more information here.

    To find out information on which ESB qualifications are still funded, please click here: https://esbuk.org/web/funding/external-funding/

    Don’t worry though, you can still deliver these qualifications and you may also be able to access our Christabel Burniston Fund. 

    Please contact our business development team for more information: business@esbuk.org.

  • Easier to use ESB Speech Specifications

    ESB has taken steps to improve its Speech Specifications for 2022 in response to listening to new centres and the information they find helpful. The speech specifications which have been refreshed include Pre-entry to Level 3 (Grade 8) assessments.

    The improvements include:

    • A new page detailing the benefits of improving learners’ oracy skills, the benefits our assessments can have in terms of curriculum design, and the benefits of our group-based assessments.
    • A new page describing the skills and advantages afforded by each section of the qualification including presenting, reading aloud and critical reviews.
    • A link to a sample selection of resources (with more resources to follow as we develop them).
    • An updated page showing how each qualification links to the National Curriculum, with links that direct the reader to the specific segment of the National Curriculum.
    • Clarification on the use of ‘Standard English’ in ESB International assessments.
    • Updated Assessment Overview pages, with clearer, more contemporary and relevant example topics.
    • Updated and simplified information on Assessment and Grading, providing more clarity on weighting, reports and certificates.
    • Our pathways specifications have been redesigned to make them easier to navigate.

    We want to make our assessments as easy as possible to deliver and these Speech Specifications’ improvements should give teachers a clearer starting point as they embark on teaching ESB Speech Assessments to their learners. Our purpose is to support all learners to possess the oracy skills they need in order to achieve their aspirations. Our new Specifications are the first step to giving learners the opportunities to develop and demonstrate their Oracy skills and build their confidence to lead full and productive lives.

    ESB Chief Assessor, Ben Jackson

    The full list of qualifications with new specifications are:

    ESB Pre-Entry Level Award in Speech

    ESB Entry Level Award in Speech (Entry 1)

    ESB Entry Level Award in Speech (Entry 2)

    ESB Entry Level Award in Speech (Entry 3)

    ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 1)

    ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 2) – Speech for Employability

    ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 2) – Speech to Perform

    ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 2) – Speech to Inform

    ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 2) – Speech to Connect

    ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 3)

    ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4) – Speech for Employability

    ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4) – Speech to Perform

    ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4) – Speech to Inform

    ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4) – Speech to Connect

    ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 5a Drama Focus)

    ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 5b Presentation Focus)

    ESB Level 3 Certificate in Speech (Grade 6)

    ESB Level 3 Certificate in Speech (Grade 8)

    Interested in our Speech qualifications? There is no time like the present, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today! Read about the qualifications that we have on offer here, or alternatively if you simply wish to have an informal chat about our qualifications, please contact a member of the Product Development Team at product@esbuk.org.

  • Happy National Poetry Day

    It’s National Poetry Day and what better way to celebrate than looking back at some of our wonderful learners’ renditions.

    Poetry is one key component in many of our Graded Examinations in Speech assessments for learners in Key Stage 1 through to Key Stage 5. Encouraging learners to enjoy this use of creative language helps to develop the skills to recite creative language from memory.

    The fee of these assessments range from £30.00 at Entry Level to the maximum price of £54.00 per learner at Advanced Level. Please note that financial support may be available for some centres. If you would like to find our more about the financial support that ESB could offer your centre, please visit our Funding page or email us today.

    Says Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw:

    Here at ESB, we strongly believe that poetry is a great way to improve a learner’s overall confidence and communication skills. The memory and presentation skills involved gives them essential life skills, enabling them to thrive in education, training and employment.

    For further information about our Speech assessments, please click here. Alternatively, if you still have unanswered questions or you would like to become an ESB centre, please contact our Business Development Team. We’d love to hear from you.

    Preparing today’s learner for tomorrow’s world is something ESB is passionate about. Help your learners to reach their potential by taking our assessments today!