Samarès School receives national award for speaking and listening teaching

A school in Jersey has become the first in the island to receive national recognition for its speaking and listening teaching.

Samarès School has been recognised as a 'Centre of Excellence' by oracy charity Voice 21. 

It is the first Jersey school to receive this award, and is among just 10 others in the UK to have its achievements noted by the charity. 

To secure recognition, Samarès had to demonstrate the quality of oracy education under their roof across five areas of school life: it's vision, culture, curriculum, learning and impact on students.

Deputy Headteacher George Lumley, tells us how it has helped pupils find their voice:

"Across the school from nursery to year 6, our teachers incorporate various oracy strategies to get children talking. 

"They do this in a variety of ways, from having the words to say and the vocabulary they need to express themselves, to structures that help, effective group work, communication and presentation skills as well. 

"They are weaved throughout our curriculum and it's supported, not just in academic learning, but in their social and emotional development as well."

Pupils at Samarès School

Mr Lumley says the teaching has been paying off: 

"We found that as a result of this work, children are a lot more able to articulate themselves about how they feel about certain situations.

"It really gives them life-long skills to leave school, go out into the workplace, go to secondary schools and communicate effectively - which is such an important skill."

Year 6 pupils at Samarès School have given Channel 103 their thoughts on the lessons. 

Missie had this to say: 

"I think oracy has been helpful for me because when I first came here I didn't really have a lot of oracy skills.

"I used to stutter a lot and didn't really talk to people. It's really helped me learn how to talk to people and be more sociable."

Hannah agreed:

"Before oracy came to our school, I would say I found it harder to talk to people I didn't know, but now oracy has come to our school I find it much easier to talk to people."

George tells us what happens in his lessons which he finds helpful: 

"Usually in every lesson we have at least two partner talks where we get the chance to share our views with our partners and express our views and ideas. 

"We also get the chance to talk to each other in assemblies, where we get to share our ideas with a larger variety of children in the school."

27 Jersey schools and colleges are now working with Voice 21 to develop their teaching of speaking and listening. 

Samarès School is planning to work with teachers across the island, showcasing their methods and how they can impact their students' future opportunities.