Meridian High School in New Addington has been accredited as an Oracy Centre of Excellence by Voice 21, a national charity, for its work developing students’ speaking and listening skills.
Something to talk about: staff and pupils at New Addington’s Meridian High School have been celebrating their oracy achievements
Meridian High, on Fairchildes Avenue, is one of only 24 schools across the country, chosen from more than 1,000, to have their oracy achievements recognised with this “gold standard” accreditation.
As an oracy centre of excellence, Meridian will support other schools, showcasing how oracy teaching can impact their students’ future education and employment opportunities.
Oracy is about pupils expressing themselves fluently and with correct grammar in speech.
It has been shown to be as important as reading and numeracy in improving life outcomes, and has been included in the election manifestos of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties as part of their education policies.
“The ability to express oneself clearly and effectively through speech is a vital skill for students’ personal and academic growth,” said Amy Anderson, Meridian’s headteacher.
“In school, oracy helps students develop essential communication skills like active listening, persuasive speaking, and clear articulation.
“For disadvantaged students, it can be a powerful tool to build confidence, enabling them to participate fully in classroom discussions and express their ideas. Mastering oracy not only enhances academic performance but also equips students with the verbal skills needed for success in future careers and life, fostering self-assurance and opening doors to new opportunities.”
And Gemma Papworth, the oracy lead at Meridian, said: “If our young people can articulate their ideas and show how valuable their voices are, they will find doors opening for them that they never believed could have existed.
“Oracy is an incredibly powerful tool in making our students heard.”
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