Oracy
At Hill Mead, oracy is a central pillar of our curriculum. We believe that the ability to speak, listen and communicate effectively underpins children’s learning, confidence and future success. Our whole-school approach ensures that high-quality talk is planned for, explicitly taught and consistently practised across all year groups and subjects.
We have embedded a range of practical strategies to support purposeful talk in every classroom. These include Think-Pair-Share and ABC (Agree, Build on, Challenge), supported by hand signals to help pupils actively participate in discussions. Class teachers establish clear ground rules for discussion to create a respectful and inclusive speaking environment.
At Hill Mead the expectation is to speak in full sentences and this is modelled by all of our adults. Teachers introduce ‘Goldilocks words’ — carefully selected key vocabulary in every lesson to strengthen language and deepen understanding.
Oracy is further developed through assemblies, where children practise using discourse, sharing ideas and confidently voicing their opinions. We also value strong parental engagement, encouraging dialogue beyond the classroom through subject-specific cafés and workshops open to all. To keep families informed and involved, we share regular oracy updates in our weekly newsletter.
Together, these approaches ensure that oracy is woven through the life of the school and supports every child to become a confident, articulate communicator.
Oracy framework and Glossary