Challney High School for Girls

Developing influential women of the future

Challney High School for Girls is prioritising oracy education because they know their vision, to “develop influential women of the future”, requires strong voices.

The school provides a wide range of leadership opportunities across the school, from Head Girl and Prefect roles to Music Leaders and Student Councillors. Implementing oracy education has enabled all students to develop the oracy skills they need to take advantage of these opportunities. As a result, more students are making their voices heard both in the classroom and beyond.

Building a culture of oracy with student oracy ambassadors

This year, a huge number of students applied to become Oracy Ambassadors, demonstrating that the school’s focus on oracy to enable more students to access leadership opportunities is working. Student Oracy Ambassadors have grown in resilience and confidence by recording presentations that are used to spark debate in form time. The benefits extend beyond these individuals: teachers report that students participate more, and more purposefully, both in form time and in lessons.

"It's not just the girls who always get involved. Our Oracy Ambassadors are girls who felt 'this is a chance for me to start learning to use my voice'" - Sheba George - Deputy Head and Oracy Lead

Voice 21 equips teachers and leaders with practical strategies

Teachers and leaders at Challney value the support that they’ll receive over several years as a Voice 21 Oracy School. This long-term commitment is key to ensuring that oracy education is truly embedded within the school, rather than an initiative which comes and goes. Teachers value that Voice 21’s approach equips them with practical strategies that they can use immediately in their classrooms. Leaders value that these are not isolated quick wins, but part of a coherent and sustained whole-school strategy.