We will provide all of our children with a broad, relevant and enriched curriculum so that they have the character to make a positive contribution to our society and are knowledgeable, skilled and ready for the next phase of their education.
Oracy at Abbey Mead Primary Academy is paramount to aid children’s academic, social and emotional development. It is an area that underpins all other areas of learning, which is why it is greatly valued and taught to all children at Abbey Mead. Our aim is to equip children with the confidence to articulate their thoughts and ideas so that children not only flourish in school, but also in wider society. Research has shown that possessing strong oracy skills supports individuals to thrive and reach their aspirations.
At Abbey, we encourage oracy in multiple ways. Our curriculum enables children to learn to talk, as well as learning through talk. Children are encouraged to engage in high quality talk with others to support themselves and their peers.
In Maths, children learn through both fluency and reasoning activities. Children are encouraged to engage in high quality talk to allow them to articulate their thoughts confidently and respond appropriately to others. Here are some Year 3 children using their oracy skills to explain how they tackled a question.
In English, exploratory talk helps children to formulate new ideas, deepening their thinking. Children have lots of opportunities to carry out group discussions, explaining their own thoughts and reasons whilst analysing those of others. Here are some Year 5 children discussing the front cover of their new book, Stormbreaker, in one lesson, whilst in another they had to persuade their partners to buy some exciting new products using their best reasoning skills.
Votes for School
Why we use Votes for Schools
At Abbey Mead Primary Academy, we believe in giving every child a voice, helping them to think for themselves and to understand the world around them. That’s why we use the Votes for Schools programme.
What it is:
Votes for Schools is a weekly current-affairs and pupil-voice programme that presents children with a topical question, supports class discussion, then gathers an anonymous “Yes/No” vote from pupils. The responses are shared nationally, giving children the opportunity to see how their views compare to those of peers in other schools.
The programme comes with ready-to-use lesson and assembly materials, mapped to PSHE, SMSC (spiritual, moral, social & cultural development), British Values and citizenship.
Why we use it at Abbey Mead:
- Pupil voice in action: By engaging in discussion and voting each week, our pupils learn that their opinions matter and can form part of a wider conversation beyond the classroom.
- Curriculum enrichment: The topics strengthen our PSHE and citizenship provision and help embed British Values – such as democracy, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.
- Critical thinking & debate: Children consider different viewpoints, evaluate arguments, and develop skills of respectful discussion – preparing them for life in a changing world.
- Real-world relevance: The weekly questions reflect current affairs and issues that affect children’s lives and society. This keeps learning meaningful, fresh and engaging.
- Data and reflection: After voting, results allow us to reflect as a school on how our pupils think and feel about issues – giving us insight to support them further.
How it works in our school:
Every week, we introduce the Votes for Schools question in an assembly. Then, in class, children discuss different sides of the issue. At the end of the week each class casts their anonymous vote. The results are submitted, and we share them with pupils and sometimes with families, prompting further discussion and follow-up in class.
In summary:
Votes for Schools helps make our children informed, confident and actively involved in their learning and their society. It fits strongly with Abbey Mead’s aims of nurturing thoughtful, responsible and engaged citizens of the future
Subject Leader/s
Miss K Rigby and Mrs S Sidyot.