Finding my voice: the missing link?

Well hello there and welcome to update #049!

In the Huh Curriculum Leaders course, John Tomsett unpacks the concept of the ‘triumvirate’ as a way of thinking about the relationship between the curriculum, pedagogy and assessment: they are inextricably linked.

With the increased focus on the purpose, quality and rigour of the curriculum in recent years, there’s a potential danger of coming to the view that it’s all about pupils knowing more and remembering more.

I’ve noticed that there’s been less discussion about ‘doing more’ and the risk here is that the focus is more on the implications of pupils and students remembering content, without necessarily having the chance to make connections and gain new insights.

I think that what might be missing is paying attention to oracy. While speaking is part of the national curriculum in English and also an important element of literacy across the curriculum, there has been a tendency to assume that high quality talk will happen of its own accord.

Yet we know from the work of the Oracy APPG, Voice 21 and Oracy Cambridge that the potential gains are not yet fully realised:

Cognitive gains associated with effective spoken communication skills include improved attainment in traditional subject learning; literacy skills; cognitive reasoning; [and the] transfer of comprehension and reasoning skills to other subjects. Oracy Cambridge

There are also significant emotional benefits to talking oracy seriously. It’s a big and complex topic. And that is why I’m delighted to be involved with Rachel Higginson on a new project Finding My Voice.

Finding My Voice started as a practical, outward looking program to help young people physically and metaphorically 'Find their Voice'. It worked beautifully and many young people on the fringes of education for all sorts of reasons, found their way.

The programme has now been developed into a light touch, deep impact personal development and oracy approach for secondary schools and further education.

There’s a live launch on 16th October 5.30 and if you’d like to find out more, you can sign up here.

Until next time

Mary