{"id":18918,"date":"2025-07-29T16:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T15:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/web\/?p=18918"},"modified":"2025-07-29T16:15:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T15:15:00","slug":"esb-international-patrons-and-the-guardian-join-calls-for-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/esb-international-patrons-and-the-guardian-join-calls-for-action\/","title":{"rendered":"National Momentum Builds for Oracy as The Guardian and Patrons of ESB International join Coalition Calling for Government Action\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Education, equality and industry leaders unite to remind government of its oracy pledge.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English Speaking Board (International) Ltd.&#8217;s (ESB International)<\/strong> patrons, Meena Kumari Wood and Dr Kush Kanodia, have joined the growing calls urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to honour Labour\u2019s 2023 pledge to embed oracy in the national curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/web\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Meena.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18919\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\"\/><figcaption>ESB International Patron:<br><strong>Meena Kumari Wood<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/web\/app\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Kush-Kanodia-Paralympic-Torch-987x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16908\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\"\/><figcaption>ESB International Patron: <br><strong>Dr Kush Kanodia<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Their voices add weight to a powerful open letter signed by Tina Renshaw CEO of ESB International along with 60 other Oracy champions, including children\u2019s author Michael Rosen and former education secretaries Charles Clarke and Estelle Morris, calling on the new government to prioritise speaking and listening skills as a core educational entitlement. The letter, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/voice21.org\/open-letter\/\" target=\"_blank\">organised by Voice 21<\/a>, frames oracy as the \u201cfourth R\u201d in education\u2014alongside reading, writing and arithmetic\u2014and urges the Labour government to deliver on its commitment to ensure every child develops strong communication skills to thrive in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, inequality and rapid social change.&nbsp;Their voices add weight to a powerful open letter signed by 60 leading figures, including children\u2019s author Michael Rosen and former education secretaries Charles Clarke and Estelle Morris, calling on the new government to prioritise speaking and listening skills as a core educational entitlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/meena-wood-mba-ed-leadership-fcct-b345028a_activity-7353857140085686272-qIT4?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAACMsY7QBwkUhi4DOD9UcrxeTNV0Tr-1d1no\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/web\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-24-at-12-39-15-Post-LinkedIn.png\" alt=\"A screenshot of Meena Wood's LinkedIn post\" class=\"wp-image-18930\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/embed\/feed\/update\/urn:li:share:7354063782244937728?collapsed=1\" height=\"380\" width=\"556\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" title=\"Embedded post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The campaign for oracy has also received significant backing from <em>The Guardian<\/em>, which published a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2025\/jul\/27\/the-guardian-view-on-talking-in-class-the-writers-speaking-up-for-oracy-education-are-right\" target=\"_blank\">leader editorial<\/a> on July 27 describing oracy education as a \u201clow-cost, high-return\u201d policy and stating that the new government \u201cshould seize the moment.\u201d The editorial supports the open letter\u2019s message and affirms that teaching young people to express themselves confidently and coherently is essential to a democratic society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a separate <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2025\/jul\/24\/schools-oracy-debating-failing-generation-teaching-public-speaking\" target=\"_blank\">column<\/a>, Guardian journalist Simon Jenkins went further, writing that schools are \u201cfailing a generation\u201d by neglecting public speaking. He describes oracy as \u201cthe very foundation of human interaction,\u201d warning that an education system without structured speaking and debating leaves young people at a disadvantage not just in work, but in life. The founders of ESB International, Christabel Burniston MBE and Jocelyn Bell in 1953, identified that the power of human connection was central to their ideas about Oracy and the assessment of it. Their intention was to&nbsp;focus Oracy education on the interactivity of communication and the personal development it creates. That sense of personal agency and the development and enabling of authentic skilled voices continue s at the core of ESB International\u2019s work today.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;A no brainer in 2025&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meena Kumari Wood<\/strong>, an educational consultant, trainer, author, Honorary Fellow in Educational Leadership (Univ. Birmingham), Board Member of Chartered College of Teaching and former HMI (Ofsted), Principal (Secondary), Academy Principal (Adult College) and LA Education Adviser, has described the omission of oracy from the government\u2019s interim curriculum review as deeply concerning:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"font-size:14px\"><p>Not to champion the cause of integrating speaking and listening skills\u2014self-expression\u2014into the school curriculum is a complete no-brainer in 2025.<br><br>Many young people demonstrate a lack of confidence in self-expression, possess a limited vocabulary, and struggle with face-to-face conversations\u2014especially in difficult or professional contexts. Almost half of young people surveyed by CIPD in 2024 said they were never taught these essential skills at school.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;Oracy is currency for life&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ESB International&#8217;s Chief Executive, <strong>Tina Renshaw<\/strong>, a signatory of the open letter, has echoed Meena&#8217;s concerns and highlighted the practical contribution that ESB International&#8217;s unique qualifications can make to oracy education and on the employability skills of young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/web\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Tina-Renshaw-001.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17404\" width=\"144\" height=\"154\"\/><figcaption>ESB International CEO, Tina Renshaw<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"font-size:14px\"><p>As a vocational awarding organisation, ESB International recognises the valuable currency of oracy for life, work and study. Our most popular qualification among secondary schools is <em>Speech for Employability<\/em>, which builds confidence and competence in teamwork, business analysis, interview skills, and entrepreneurship. Oracy is not an optional extra, it is a foundation for success\u2014and every child deserves access to it. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cWill Labour Deliver?\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dr Kush Kanodia<\/strong>, an influential disability rights campaigner and social entrepreneur, emphasised that Labour\u2019s promise to make oracy a central educational priority cannot be allowed to fade into the background:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"font-size:14px\"><p>Will Keir Starmer honour the Labour Party pledge by embedding teaching oracy in the educational curriculum? This moment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a fairer, more inclusive system that empowers every child with the skills needed for life and work.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-vivid-red-background-color has-vivid-red-color is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group outline-box is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Turning Promises into Policy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Oracy Education Commission recently described oracy as \u201ca foundational building block\u201d and warned that, in an age increasingly shaped by automation, communication skills are more valuable than ever.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the full report of the government\u2019s curriculum and assessment review approaches, ESB International fully endorses the words of the open letter: \u201c<strong>We urge you to turn that promise into lasting change<\/strong>.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Education, equality and industry leaders unite to remind government of its oracy pledge. English Speaking Board (International) Ltd.&#8217;s (ESB International) patrons, Meena Kumari Wood and Dr Kush Kanodia, have joined the growing calls urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to honour Labour\u2019s 2023 pledge to embed oracy in the national curriculum. Their voices add weight to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18933,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,29,6,31,7],"tags":[60,28,61,62],"class_list":["post-18918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dr-kush-kanodia","category-meena-kumari-wood","category-oracy","category-patron","category-social-mobility","tag-dr-kush-kanodia","tag-meena-kumari-wood","tag-the-guardian","tag-voice-21"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18918\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esbuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}