Jonathan Noakes, the Director of Teaching and Learning at Eton College, advocates for state schools in England to establish debating clubs and train teachers to foster classroom discussions. This would improve students’ oracy (speaking skills) and help prepare them for life. While private schools like Eton have more resources for these activities, state school teachers, especially those working with disadvantaged children, often lack the time and training to focus on such skills.
The UK government aims to make oracy a priority in schools, with a curriculum review expected to include a focus on speaking skills. According to a report by the Sutton Trust, 96% of teachers believe life skills, including oracy, are as important as formal qualifications, but many state school teachers report they lack time and resources to develop these skills effectively. State school teachers are also twice as likely as private school teachers to say their school doesn’t offer sufficient opportunities for non-academic skill development.
Eton, a prestigious school that has educated 20 British prime ministers, strongly emphasises oracy. Noakes explains that at Eton, students are expected to speak in every lesson, and teachers are specifically trained to facilitate discussions. Eton also runs programmes that focus on oracy, such as rhetoric studies for year 9 students, which include public speaking and debating.
While Noakes acknowledges the challenges state schools face, he believes introducing debating clubs and providing teacher training on discussion techniques could greatly benefit state school students. He highlights Eton’s partnerships with schools like the London Academy of Excellence, where oracy programmes have been successfully implemented.
OracyChampions.com is helping UK schools enhance students’ speaking and listening skills by providing practical tools, lesson plans, and assessment resources that integrate oracy into everyday teaching. The platform supports teachers in state schools, where time and resources may be limited, by offering easy-to-implement activities and guidance on fostering classroom discussions and setting up debating clubs. With a focus on reducing teacher workload while promoting effective oracy development, Oracy Champions ensures that all students, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have the opportunity to improve their communication skills, aligning with the call for greater emphasis on oracy in schools, as advocated by Jonathan Noakes of Eton College.
You can watch Sean Gilligan talk to Jonnie Noakes, Director of Teaching and Learning at Eton College.
