English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Category: Speech

  • ESB Singapore Roadshow 2026: Bringing Oracy, ESOL and Communication Excellence to Singapore

    ESB Singapore Roadshow 2026: Bringing Oracy, ESOL and Communication Excellence to Singapore

    ESB Singapore Roadshow 2026: Bringing Oracy, ESOL and Communication Excellence to Singapore

    International schools across Singapore are preparing for a new academic year, and ESB International is looking forward to joining the conversation.

    This September, ESB International’s Chief Executive, Adrian Gallagher, and Head of Commercial, Jonathan Smith, will visit Singapore as part of the ESB Singapore Roadshow, a week-long programme of meetings with international schools and education stakeholders from 21-25 September 2026.

    The roadshow has been created to strengthen existing relationships, develop new partnerships and explore how schools can further support learners through oracy, public speaking, debating, enrichment opportunities and English language development.

    Supporting Learners Through Communication

    For more than 70 years, English Speaking Board (ESB) has been helping learners develop the communication skills they need to succeed in education, employment and life.

    As a UK educational charity and awarding organisation, ESB has built a reputation for delivering qualifications that place communication, confidence and progression at their heart. From Early Years through to post-16 education, our qualifications support learners in developing the skills required to express themselves effectively, participate confidently and thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

    Today, schools and centres around the globe use ESB qualifications to support:

    • Oracy and spoken communication
    • Public speaking and presentations
    • Debating and critical thinking
    • Performance and self-expression
    • EAL and ESOL provision
    • Enrichment and learner development

    These areas are becoming increasingly important as schools look to prepare young people for future study, employment and global citizenship.

    Building on Our Work with Tanglin Trust School

    The roadshow also builds upon ESB’s growing presence within Singapore’s international education sector through our relationship with Tanglin Trust School, one of the region’s most respected international schools.

    Tanglin Trust School has long been recognised for its commitment to educational excellence, learner development and enrichment. The relationship has provided valuable insight into the priorities and opportunities facing international schools in Singapore and further reinforces ESB’s commitment to supporting communication-focused education within the region.

    As we continue to develop our work in Singapore, we are keen to engage with schools that share our belief in the importance of communication skills and learner confidence as foundations for lifelong success.

    Why Meet ESB During the Singapore Roadshow?

    The start of the academic year presents an ideal opportunity for schools to review and enhance areas such as:

    🗣️ Oracy & Enrichment

    Developing confident communicators through meaningful enrichment opportunities.

    🎤 Public Speaking & Debating

    Creating opportunities for learners to speak with confidence and think critically.

    🌍 EAL & ESOL

    Supporting English language proficiency, progression and global opportunity.

    The ESB Singapore Roadshow offers school leaders and education professionals the opportunity to meet directly with ESB’s senior leadership team to discuss how these priorities can be embedded within curriculum and enrichment programmes.

    Whether you are a Head of School, Head of English, EAL Coordinator, Performing Arts Lead, Enrichment Lead or classroom practitioner, we would welcome the opportunity to learn more about your school and its ambitions for the year ahead.

    Register your interest today

    If your school is reviewing its approach to communication skills, enrichment, public speaking, debating, EAL or ESOL for the 2026-27 academic year, we would be delighted to hear from you.

    Schools interested in meeting with ESB during the Singapore Roadshow can:

    ✅ Book a meeting with ESB representatives during our visit

    ✅ Register their interest for a future conversations outside from our visit

    ✅ Learn more about ESB’s qualifications in oracy, communication skills and ESOL

    ✅ Explore potential partnership opportunities

    Meeting availability is limited and appointments are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • ESB International to Deliver Oracy Workshop with the English Association

    ESB International to Deliver Oracy Workshop with the English Association

    ESB International to Deliver Oracy Workshop with the English Association

    ESB International is delighted to be partnering with The English Association to deliver a workshop on Thursday 21st May, led by ESB International’s Senior Assessor for Oracy. The session will explore how authentic speaking scenarios can support the explicit teaching of key communication skills in the primary classroom.

    The session will focus on how teachers can create talk opportunities that feel relevant, realistic and reflective of learners’ real lives. By anchoring spoken language tasks in authentic contexts, learners gain greater agency in their communication and develop confidence, identity and stronger classroom relationships.

    Oracy sits at the heart of ESB’s mission to build confident, effective communicators, and this workshop will offer practical guidance grounded in our long-standing expertise in spoken language assessment.

    Exploring Authentic, Purposeful Classroom Talk

    Drawing on examples from ESB’s Primary Oracy qualifications, the workshop will demonstrate how real‑life communication activities can be combined with the explicit teaching of discrete communication skills, including:

    • Voice
    • Structure
    • Pace and Pause
    • Gesture
    • Emphasis
    • Active Listening

    These skills underpin effective communication and support progression in speaking and listening across the primary years.

    Practical Ideas for Classroom Application

    Participants will leave with a range of strategies for designing purposeful talk tasks that help pupils develop:

    • Confidence in sharing their ideas
    • Clarity in structuring and presenting information
    • Effectiveness as speakers and listeners

    The session will also explore how classroom talk tasks can be thoughtfully sequenced to support ongoing development throughout a child’s primary journey.

    Who Should Attend?

    This webinar is designed for:

    • Primary school teachers
    • English subject leaders
    • Literacy coordinators
    • Trainee teachers and teacher educators
    • School leaders with an interest in oracy and spoken language development

    By the end of the webinar, attendees will:

    • Understand what makes a classroom talk task meaningful and authentic
    • Know how to teach discrete communication skills through purposeful, real‑world speaking scenarios
    • Take away ideas for designing talk tasks that help pupils progress in speaking and listening across the primary years

    Whether you are looking to strengthen your school’s oracy provision or seeking new approaches for encouraging confident communication, this workshop will offer practical insight and inspiration.

    Book Your Place

    We invite colleagues passionate about supporting pupils’ spoken language development to join us for this engaging and practical session.

    Book your place here:

  • 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.