Proposals for oracy in schools should value stammered speech.
The Oracy Education Commission report We need to talk (oracyeducationcommission.co.uk), in October 2024, recommended that oracy skills – including ability to articulate ideas orally – should be integrated into subjects generally across the National Curriculum. Oracy should become a central tenet of a child’s education – the fourth “R”.
This raises concerns, acknowledged in the report, that pupils who stammer should not be marginalised. STAMMA, who made comments to the Commission, says oracy would only work in environments where stammered speech is valued just as much as fluent speech. It’s important schools ensure that their classroom environments don’t just accept, but positively welcome stammered voices”: Concern over school oracy recommendations (stamma.org), October 2024.
Unless the Equality Act is amended (which is unlikely), any proposals implemented will need to comply with it as regards both classroom teaching/activities and exams or other assessments.
See also F-Bomb blog: oracy in schools, 2023.
Note: This is just an initial brief page on oracy.
