{"id":16141,"date":"2023-07-06T13:20:06","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T12:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/web\/?p=16141"},"modified":"2023-07-06T13:20:06","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T12:20:06","slug":"esb-endorses-sir-keir-starmers-pledge-to-ensure-all-children-are-taught-oracy-skills-in-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/esb-endorses-sir-keir-starmers-pledge-to-ensure-all-children-are-taught-oracy-skills-in-school\/","title":{"rendered":"ESB endorses Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s pledge to ensure all children are taught Oracy skills in school\ufffc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

English Speaking Board (International) Ltd, a specialist Awarding Organisation offering Oracy and English Language qualifications, and also a member of the Oracy Network, is delighted that the subject of Oracy in schools is high on the political agenda.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an article<\/a> published in The Times, Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to prioritise oracy as a key aspect of the Labour Party’s education mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Times Education Editor, Nicola Woolcock says, \u201cSpeaking fluently and clearly will be put at the heart of the national curriculum and given the same status as literacy and numeracy under a Labour government, Sir Keir Starmer has pledged. \u201cThe ability to articulate ideas is key to \u201cgetting on and thriving in life\u201d, Starmer says, arguing that children with poor language skills at the age of five are six times less likely to reach the expected standard of English at 11.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Says ESB\u2019s Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw, \u201cIt\u2019s fantastic to see that oracy is being recognised as a priority in education. As a member of the Oracy Network, the group supporting the work of the Oracy APPG chaired by Emma Hardy MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle, ESB has been successfully offering oracy qualifications to learners for 70 years and knows its impact as a valid pathway to promote oracy in schools. We certificate more than 60,000 learners per year and regularly rank amongst the Top 50 UK-based Awarding Organisations offering vocational qualifications.\u201d

Research from Sutton Trust in February 2019, for the APPG for Social Mobility, found that from the age of five, the UK\u2019s most disadvantaged children can be 19 months behind their more affluent peers in vocabulary development, and this deficit can have life-long consequences. By not developing our children\u2019s language and communication skills from the earliest opportunity, we are limiting our workforce and the economy. The report states: \u2018Children with poor vocabulary aged five are more than twice as likely to be unemployed aged 34\u2019<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tina adds, \u201cClarity of communication and an ability to express thoughts simply, sincerely and persuasively, are qualities needed by everyone in this specialised, competitive world. For whatever the industrial, professional or social responsibilities are, every individual will have to inform, instruct, listen, explain, question, interpret, disagree and advise. ESB\u2019s assessment framework can act as a scaffolding tool for embedding Oracy into a school curriculum\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ESB Honorary President, Merriel Halsall-William\u2019s amazing work on Oracy is recognised in the comments section of The Times article:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was lucky enough to be taught public speaking while at school, a skill which has served me well throughout my career. Having seen Managers crumble when required to address a room full of staff, shaking like a leaf, I can only consider myself extremely grateful for the skills I was given in my youth. Thanks Ms. Halsall-Williams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chair of Trustees, Pippa Quarrell, further adds:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWonderful to see reference to the work of the amazing Merriel Halsall-Williams. She\u2019s devoted her career to this cause by preparing her pupils for Speaking and Listening assessments provided by a brilliant organisation set up exactly 70 years ago by another legend in this area, Christabel Burniston. The Oracy qualifications offered by English Speaking Board are a golden ticket to social mobility and lifelong success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tina says, \u201cFor the last 70 years, we have witnessed the immediate and life-long impact of our Oracy qualifications on the progression of learners\u2019 oracy and personal development but now we have data to prove in our National Impact Report.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find out more about ESB\u2019s National Impact Report, please watch the video. You can also download the Executive Summary of the report here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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