Have you ever noticed how many politicians, business leaders, and media figures seem to have that effortless confidence when they speak? They hold eye contact, make their point clearly, and can charm a room full of people while remembering everyone’s name. Now, it’s not that they were born better speakers (though some might like you to think so). The truth is, many of them were taught how to speak: systematically, purposefully, and confidently, in schools that made oracy (the art of speaking and listening well) a top priority. So, how do independent and private schools turn out so many articulate, confident communicators?  And more importantly, how can every school do the same, without extra budgets or facilities?

The word “oracy” might sound like a modern buzzword, but it’s not new. It’s the spoken equivalent of literacy and numeracy, the ability to express yourself clearly and listen actively. Neil Mercer, from Oracy Cambridge and the University of Cambridge, describes oracy as the ability to use spoken language effectively: to express thoughts, communicate ideas, and work with others. He also reminds us that when students learn how to use talk to reason together, they become better at reasoning on their own. That is powerful. It means that oracy is not just about presentation skills, it’s about thinking, learning, and social development. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) agrees. Their research shows that explicitly teaching talk, and modelling how to explain, reason, and listen, improves learning across subjects, especially in reading and writing.  Put simply, better talkers make better thinkers. And here’s the social equity part. Children from language-rich homes arrive at school already having used more sophisticated vocabulary. If we do not teach oracy deliberately, that gap widens.  So, oracy is not a luxury add-on. It is an essential part of giving every child an equal voice.

Independent schools have long treated oracy as a core life skill rather than a classroom extra. Here’s what they tend to do, and what any school can adapt.
• It is embedded across the curriculum. Speaking and listening are part of science discussions, history debates, and maths explanations.
• Formal speaking is a normal part of school life. Debates, assemblies, drama, and speech days give every child a chance to perform and present.
• Confidence and etiquette are taught directly. Pupils learn to greet visitors, hold eye contact, and express opinions respectfully.
• Every pupil gets a turn. Leading assemblies, mentoring younger pupils, or welcoming guests is expected, not exceptional.
• Feedback is taken seriously. Pupils are coached in articulation, tone, and body language, just as athletes are coached in technique.

None of this is exclusive to fee-paying schools. It’s cultural and intentional.  The good news is that the same culture can grow anywhere, with structure, practice, and consistency.  Neil Mercer and Oracy Cambridge have shown that structured classroom dialogue improves reasoning, critical thinking, and attainment. EEF evidence links talk-based learning to gains in literacy and social skills.  Voice 21, the national oracy charity, highlights that speaking and listening are essential for employability, wellbeing, and participation in society, yet they are often under-taught. Their Oracy Framework divides oracy into four strands: physical, linguistic, cognitive, and social and emotional. It offers a simple way to teach and assess speaking skills clearly.

With all that in mind, here are ten easy, high-impact ways to make confident speaking part of everyday school life in KS2.
1. Make Talk a Learning Tool
Use Think-Pair–Share or Turn and Talk in every subject.
Teach sentence stems such as “I agree because…” or “To build on that idea…”
Model how to reason aloud, not just how to answer.
2. Weekly Debates or Big Questions
Try questions like “Should homework be banned?” or “Are zoos a good idea?”
Teach structure and respectful disagreement, one voice at a time.
3. Mini Presentations
Give every child sixty seconds each week to speak to the class on any topic.
Build confidence through repetition and supportive feedbacks be consider teaching them presentation skills.
4. Drama and Role Play
Hot-seat a historical figure or act out a science discovery.
Drama is oracy in motion, tone, empathy, and expression all at once.
5. Vocabulary Champions
Introduce a Word of the Week challenge and encourage pupils to use it aloud in context.
Celebrate adventurous vocabulary choices.
6. Feedback and Assessment
Use rubrics from Voice 21 or Oracy Cambridge to guide feedback.
Praise clarity, reasoning, and good listening as much as content accuracy.
7. Leadership Through Talk
Give pupils real speaking roles: assembly hosts, class representatives, peer mentors.
Leadership begins with voice.
8. Model Confident Talk
Teachers should model tone, pace, and phrasing. Narrate your thinking aloud so that pupils see talk as part of learning.
9. Celebrate Oracy
Hold Oracy Assemblies or Speaker’s Corner Fridays.
Invite parents or community guests to hear pupils present proudly.
10. Build a Whole-School Culture
Appoint an Oracy Lead to champion practice.
Audit talk time, who is doing most of the talking, adults or pupils?
Include oracy in curriculum planning and CPD sessions.

Teaching children to speak well is really teaching them to think well. It is also teaching them to lead, to collaborate, and to influence. Every single school can build confident speakers. All you need is the belief that every voice matters, along with the daily routines and opportunities that make talk central to learning. So, the next time a pupil nervously raises their hand to speak, give them the space, the scaffold, and the encouragement. You might just be watching a future leader in the making.

Where to Find Out More
Oracy Cambridge – www.oracycambridge.org
www.voice21.org (see their Oracy Framework)