The Commission Conversations is a series of short dialogues and discussions that explore what we mean by ‘oracy’ and why it is so important that every child has access to an effective oracy education.

Hosted by Geoff Barton, Chair of the Oracy Education Commission, the podcast features over 50 interviews with school leaders, academics, teachers, speech and language therapists and authors. Topics covered include:

• The history of oracy education.
• ‘Learning how to talk’ and’ learning through talk’.
• Oracy in the Early Years.
• Developing a whole-school oracy education.
• Embedding speaking and listening in primary schools.
• Issues around assessing oracy.
• The relationship between language and social inequality.
• Oracy and the politics of identity.
• Supporting students with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).

The Commission Conversations is available on most major podcast channels.

Cost: Free

About the Commission on the Future of Oracy Education in England: The Commission on the Future of Oracy Education in England is an independent commission chaired by Geoff Barton and hosted by Voice 21. It was set up to consider the aims and purpose of oracy education in schools and to make recommendations on how an effective oracy education can be delivered as part of a child’s statutory education. The Commission published its final report We Need to Talk in September 2024.