IMPLEMENTING ORACY: INCLUSION, ASSESSMENT, IMPACT - ORACY CAMBRIDGE Jan to Jun 2026: Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge and online     This six-session professional learning programme is designed for school leaders, oracy leads and classroom teachers who want to imp...

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“We recommend that the Government introduce an oracy framework to support practice and to complement the existing frameworks for reading and writing.” (Curriculum and Assessment Review, p.79) 🎉 🎉 🎉

It’s an exciting time for oracy in education...

I'm also worried about effective implementation - just doing some techniques won't produce real impact. But I'm thrilled that oracy is now recognised as necessary. Many teachers & leaders will work hard to implement well, and give children and young people a voice that they can use effectively.

We welcome the government’s plan to introduce a national oracy framework – a major step towards giving spoken language its rightful place in education.

We look forward to working with the @departmentforedu.bsky.social to support its careful implementation and bring about lasting change.

📚 BOOK GIVEAWAY! 📚

These books underpin the Implementing Oracy programme, running Jan–Jun 2026 at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge. Find out more 👉 oracycambridge.org/implementing...

Entry details below

Children notice the impact of an oracy education.

Implementing Oracy: Inclusion, assessment, impact - Hughes Hall A professional learning programme to embed excellent oracy practice across your school or trust.

www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/about/events...

This six-session professional learning programme, to run from Jan-June 2026, is designed for school leaders, oracy leads and classroom teachers who want to implement #oracy with clarity and confidence.

To secure your place, click the link below, fill out your details and we’ll be in touch.

www.topsypage.com/blog/2025/9/...

The Transformative Power of Finding Your Voice – Neil Mercer's new book on Oracy - Topsy Page Recommended reading for teachers and everyone else too!

www.topsypage.com/blog/2025/7/...

For those of you who have not yet experienced the joy and wonder of Philosophy for Children:
I'm running a Level 1 training course in London on Tuesday 30th September & Wednesday 1st October for Thoughtful (SAPERE) - the P4C charity.
www.sapere.org.uk/our-courses/...
Course ID 8061
#P4C #oracy

Neil Mercer: 'Oracy is still not properly understood' The Cambridge academic talks about the 'conspiracy theory' of why, despite all the evidence, oracy is yet to be introduced into the curriculum, and whether the Labour government will make the change

Good TES interview with #oracy guru Prof Neil Mercer:
‘In 2023 Sir Keir Starmer pledged that the Labour Party would weave oracy through the curriculum. Yet when the interim report was published, oracy was not mentioned at all. So, is Labour really serious about change?’ www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Brilliant new book out by Neil Mercer.
#oracy

Talk prompts to help students explain and reason in Maths - Topsy Page Help students to use the language of Maths

www.topsypage.com/blog/2025/5/...
#oracy
#maths

Should we ask for volunteers during whole-class talk? - ORACY CAMBRIDGE by Topsy Page   Pupil voice about ‘participation systems’ for whole-class talk – how is it decided who speaks, and are the systems effective?  We know that one of the…

Should we ask for volunteers in whole-class talk? oracycambridge.org/should-we-as...
#oracy

11 year-old's response to my question: Does talking help with learning?
#oracy

Lovely to see children engaged in the daily thinking question written on the table as part of 'Chat & Play' - how all children start the day at this school.
#oracy
#P4C

Thinking time is a critical aspect of developing oracy. Love this part of a whole-school 'talk promise' at a school I recently visited.
#oracy
#thinkingtime

Love these collaborative talk prompts which I saw being used so effectively in a Y6 classroom last week.
#oracy

This is so great to hear!

We are Thoughtful YouTube video by SAPERE

The one, the only, Stephen Fry giving our friends at SAPERE a shout out: they are now called 'Thoughtful' & promote #philosophy in #schools & the community #P4C #philsky #academicsky #philosophymatters

youtu.be/ykpkQUpg4Ns

Calling all Early Years practitioners: our Extend P4C- Early Years module is available to book now! The session is online on Tuesday 10th June 16:00-17:30pm. Visit our website to book your place:

We are THOUGHTFUL - the charity for P4C (new name for SAPERE). 4 decades and still going strong #p4c #philosophymatters

A SecEd best practice guide to teaching oracy in schools - SecEd This free guide offers ideas, advice and case studies for teaching oracy skills in the secondary school classroom

This FREE guide to teaching oracy at secondary is excellent. A truly impressive range of researchers, leaders and practitioners with practical, evidence based ways forward. Will share widely! Thankyou SecEd www.sec-ed.co.uk/content/down...

Yes, very much hoping it hasn't been forgotten.

If you only read one @seced.bsky.social article this week: It has to be our free 21-page guide to #oracy #teaching with great contributions from @voice21oracy.bsky.social – Oracy Cambridge – @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social – @amygaunt.bsky.social – @mattbromley.bsky.social & many more buff.ly/DD8CL5j

We've spent the best part of a year exploring assessment in school. We've overhauled our reporting systems, built in moderation processes and undertaken peer observation cycles. The key finding in it all is that great formative assessment depends on good oracy.

Yes! This is fascinating, Debra. I'd love to hear more.

This sounds wonderful!

How can I get everyone to join in? Part 2 - Topsy Page My top three strategies to make sure every pupil speaks during whole-class learning

My latest blog about participation in classroom talk. I'm thinking a lot about this at the moment. www.topsypage.com/blog/2025/1/...

Delighted that the @oracycommission.bsky.social is now on BlueSky. Here’s their thread on the work of the Commision in 2024, and where #oracy education may go in 2025 …