As oracy changes the way students learn, momentum is building. Voice 21 is here to support every school on their oracy journey.

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Making Oracy Ordinary

A decade of impact and a growing movement

Over the past decade, we've reached 203,000 students and provided 20,780 hours of support to over 2,500 schools. And this is just the beginning as we move forward with our new strategy to make oracy a part of every child’s education, in every school.

Oracy is gaining real traction. Schools are seeing its power to boost teacher confidence, raise reading outcomes, and build more inclusive classrooms. Our latest Impact Report shows how far we've come and why oracy is essential in shaping students' success, both in school and beyond.

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State schools supported

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Schools on the Voice 21 Waitlist

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Of Headteachers are prioritising oracy in 2026*

 

*TeacherTapp Insights Report 30/01/2025

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Supporting your oracy journey

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Oracy education news

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Oracy Education Commission 2024

Geoff Barton chairs the Oracy Education Commission. Read: "We need to talk"

Oracy deserves its place alongside reading, writing, and arithmetic at the heart of education. The We Need To Talk report, released by the independent Commission on the Future of Oracy Education, presents a powerful, evidence-backed case for transforming how schools develop these essential skills. The report shows how oracy improves student confidence, engagement, and outcomes, while also supporting teacher development and school culture. Read the full report and help make oracy a key part of every child’s education.

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of young people feel confident talking about their skills in an interview

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of children say strong communication skills make them feel happier

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of students achieved or exceeded the expected standard in mathematics

Making oracy ordinary

Oracy headlines

Stay informed about the latest developments in oracy education. Below, you can read more about how oracy is making waves in the news and the growing conversations around its impact in schools and beyond.

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News
The Guardian

Let's speak about the importance of oracy
Greg Brooks thinks oracy needs to be given equal status with literacy and numeracy. Dr Kate Paradine says state schools don’t need to follow a model set by private schools.
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News
The Telegraph

Make oracy the fourth 'R' of education, theatre boss says
Rufus Norris, the outgoing head of the National Theatre, wants children to learn oral language skills across the curriculum.
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Research
Voice 21

Voice 21's Journal: The Talking Point
The Talking Point brings together rich insights from teacher-led research in Voice 21 Oracy Schools and wider contributions from educators and experts across the sector. 
How we support schools

Our mission is to make oracy an ordinary part of every child's education 

Voice 21 has supported over 2,500 schools across the UK, with our Voice 21 Oracy Schools seeing a powerful impact on students, teachers, and whole-school culture. With more than 40 Oracy Centres of Excellence nationwide, the momentum is building.

But our work doesn’t stop there. To celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we’re launching a free, digital way to introduce, deliver, and embed high-quality oracy education in schools around the world. We're also getting ready to welcome our next cohort of Voice 21 Oracy Schools.

Tell us more about your school and context to discover how we can support you on your oracy journey.

© 2025 Voice 21