Oracy October

Resource type: Event

Price band: Free

Key stage: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5

Region(s): All of UK

Oracy October is a month-long celebration of oracy. It aims to raise awareness of the important role oracy plays in supporting young people to transform their learning and their lives beyond school. Further details for Oracy October 2026 to be announced.

Schools can access a range of resources to support Oracy October. Resources for Oracy October 2025 included:

A resource pack for primary and secondary schools with guidance and challenges to complete throughout the month of October.
Tips and practical strategies to support children with Developmental Language Disorder through a focus on oracy.
A series of four, free webinars exploring the Oracy Framework, Developmental Language Disorder and effective approaches to help schools embed a high-quality oracy education.

Cost: Free with registration.

About Voice 21: Voice 21 is the UK’s leading oracy education charity, dedicated to transforming the learning and life chances of young people through talk. The charity provides training and resources to empower schools to provide a high-quality oracy education that will enable their students to use their voice for success in school and in life.

Further resources:

Professional development

Implementing Oracy 2027 is a six-session professional learning programme from Oracy Cambridge that runs from January to July 2027. The programme combines in-person sessions, remote clinics and a national conference to help schools raise attainment by developing students’ communication skills. Cost £1650.
Find resources, online webinars, research reports and case studies to help school implement a high-quality oracy curriculum on the Voice 21 website.

Teaching and learning

Download free resources to help improve the quality and quantity of pupil talk in primary and secondary classrooms from Oracy Cambridge.
Topical Talk is a year-round programme of free resources from the Economist Education Foundation designed to help students aged 10+ develop critical thinking and communication skills through discussion about current affairs.
Find out more about Words for Work, the National Literacy Trust’s fully funded communication and aspirations programme for secondary pupils.

Get involved

Help pupils develop and perfect their oracy skills by taking part in this year’s Poetry by Heart Competition, a poetry speaking competition for pupils in KS2 – KS5 in England.
Sign up for the Story Seekers, a fully-resourced, free oracy and creative literacy project from the National and Unicorn Theatres for primary-aged pupils based around finding, telling and sharing stories from around the globe.

More to explore