Oracy

Oracy skills are critical across the curriculum. Oracy is the ability to communicate using language to express ideas, feelings and thoughts, and to listen and interact with other clearly.

We know that standards in writing are linked to the development of excellent oracy skills. These skills are developed in all areas of the curriculum. For example in Maths, there is now a greater emphasis on reasoning, explaining and justifying solutions.

In PSHE, children are encouraged to share and give reasons for their responses to curriculum questions, and we use Kagan principles to encourage effective collaboration in classrooms. Children are given opportunities to have their voice heard, debate and present on topics such as mental health and the Rights-Respecting agenda.

We also work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and have introduced Rehearsal Room and Active Learning Approaches to enhance the teaching of English at Cherry Grove Primary School.  

Assemblies

Throughout the course of the year, children are given several opportunities to present their learning to the rest of the school through 'Sharing Assemblies’. During themed weeks children from Nursery through to Year 6 present their learning to the rest of the school, for example through Rights of the Child fortnight, Healthy Schools and Science week. Our school ambassadors frequently hold their own whole school assemblies. All years hold a speaking event each term in the form of poetry slams, readings or presentations.

Productions

Throughout the school we give our pupils the opportunity to perform in annual productions to share with the rest of the school, with their parents and carers and the wider community. We use English lessons to explore the plays we are performing and encourage children to be involved with directing, costumes, make up design, settings, lighting and much more. 

In Nursery, Reception and Year 1/2, the children put on a Christmas performance once a year.  In Year 3/4 the children will perform musicals or a play in the Spring term.  In the past we have produced, Oliver, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Matilda  and The Tempest.  In Year 5/6 the children will perform a musical or a play in the Summer term.