Meden School receive Prestigious Oracy Award

Meden accredited as a Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence 2024 (Whole School - 04/07/2024)

Meden School is to receive an Oracy Centre of Excellence award from the national oracy charity, Voice 21, for its work developing students’ speaking and listening skills.

Voice 21 work with more than 1000 schools nationally, and Meden School was one of only eleven to have their oracy achievements recognised in the most recent round of applications.

The Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence award certifies and celebrates schools who are changing the way they educate by supporting students to find their voice - and as a result are transforming their learning and life chances. To secure its recognition, Meden School had to demonstrate the quality of oracy education being provided across five areas of school life: their school’s vision, culture, curriculum, learning and impact on students.

As a Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence, Meden School will support other schools in the community and across the country, showcasing how oracy teaching can impact their students’ future education and employment opportunities.

Oracy has been shown to be as important as reading and numeracy in improving life outcomes for children and according to The Skills Imperative 2035, communication and collaboration skills are one of six ‘Essential Employment Skills’.

Jim Smith Headteacher at Meden School says, “We are extremely proud to be recognised as an Oracy Centre of Excellence by Voice 21. By putting oracy at the heart of our teaching and learning we have seen the incredible difference it can make to students' of all ages and abilities learning and confidence.”

Kate Paradine, CEO at Voice 21, says: “I’d like to congratulate Meden School on becoming a Voice 21 Oracy Centre of Excellence. It’s a testament to the innovative and inspirational oracy teaching by staff across school. This is already having significant impacts on students’ learning, and will be of huge benefit to them as they progress throughout school and in future education and employment opportunities. Meden School is part of the national oracy movement that is transforming the education system and preparing all students to use their voice to succeed in school and in life.”

In its 2021 report ‘Speak for Change’, the The Oracy All-Party Parliamentary Group highlighted the importance of oracy education to improve academic performance, underpin literacy and vocabulary, support wellbeing and confidence, and enable young people to access employment and thrive in life beyond school.