Oracy should have equal status to reading, writing and maths

In order to prepare young people for their future, oracy should be the fourth “R” of education – of equal status to reading, writing and arithmetic, according to a new report by the Commission on the Future of Oracy Education in England.

In the report, the Commission calls for increased emphasis on oracy education to better prepare all young people to become fulfilled future citizens and combat increasing polarisation and misinformation.

It also calls for the recognition of the essential role of oracy as a building block for reading, writing and students’ academic progression through school, as well as acknowledgement of the rising importance of oracy skills in an AI-transformed labour market.

Oracy means articulating ideas, developing understanding and engaging with others through speaking, listening and communication. Polling conducted on behalf of the Commission found that over 80% of business leaders and parents support more time being spent on the development of young people’s oracy skills at school.

The Commission’s report argues that oracy education should be an essential entitlement for children from all backgrounds. It comes after the Labour government signalled that oracy would be an integral part of future education policy with inclusion in the Curriculum and Assessment Review, due to be published in 2025.

The Commission calls for the government to integrate speaking, listening and communication into every subject across the curriculum, as well as in extra-curricular activities.

It also calls for schools to be incentivised to provide a broad curriculum enabling children to access the value of the expressive arts and citizenship as contexts for oracy, and to make oracy a key part of the training and development of all teachers.

The Commission was established earlier this year to help ensure that children and young people benefit from an education that builds their language, understanding and confidence. It seeks to address inequality, polarisation and the demands of a global economy, including the increased use of AI, through oracy education.

The Commission ran for five months, and received evidence from academics, teachers and leaders, exam bodies, charities and experts in education policy. They held roundtables and considered case studies of practice from a range of schools.

Geoff Barton, Chair of the Commission on the Future of Oracy Education in England, said: “Against a backdrop of technological change and an increasingly fractured society, it’s never been more important to prepare children and young people to become citizens who can flourish, living happy and successful lives.”

“Our education system should equip young people to ask questions, articulate ideas and formulate powerful arguments. However young people express themselves and communicate, we should be providing opportunities for them to deepen their sense of identity and belonging, listen actively and critically, and learn a fundamental principle of a liberal democracy – being able to disagree agreeably. Parents want it, the economy demands it, democracy needs it, teachers welcome it and our children deserve it.”

“16 year-olds could soon gain the right to vote in a country that still feels divided on vital and emotive issues. That means critical listening and powerful, considerate debate are more important than ever before.”