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Longsight Community Primary’s Oracy achievements are spotlighted

Learning at Longsight Community Primary is built on the belief that every child deserves to be heard. Oracy – the ability to speak and listen well – is a core part of the school’s curriculum, not just as a skill, but as a way of developing confidence, shaping identity, and helping children understand that their voice truly matters.

Longsight’s approach to oracy and its impact on its pupils has been spotlighted by Voice 21, the UK’s oracy education charity. Working predominantly with schools serving economically disadvantaged communities, Voice 21 focuses on the importance of children who face systemic barriers receiving a high-quality oracy education in order to thrive in school and in life, and to combat wider educational inequity.

As a community-based school rooted in a diverse Manchester neighbourhood, this is something that resonates deeply with Longsight. With 211 pupils coming from 21 different countries and speaking 16 different languages, Longsight’s dedication to talk-rich lessons and learning helps its children to not only build vital language skills but also develop the confidence to express themselves fully.

In class, pupils are taught to “speak like a specialist,” using subject-specific vocabulary to explain, present, debate, and reflect. Similarly, weekly ‘Talk Assemblies’ offer pupils the chance to explore and discuss local, national, and global issues, teaching them how to “stand up and speak out.”

The value placed on oracy is clear and consistent across all year groups. This whole-school commitment is having a clear, positive and lasting impact on students. In 2024, Ofsted reported:

“By the time that [Longsight] pupils leave Year 6, they are confident, articulate learners who are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Pupils have a voice and are listened to in school. The school’s work to develop pupils’ communication skills results in self-assured pupils who can discuss and debate topics with other pupils. [Children’s] ability to discuss their learning with confidence is impressive.”

Headteacher of Longsight Community Primary, Rukhsana Ahmed, says: “We are so proud to have Longsight’s work on oracy highlighted by Voice 21. Our wonderful staff, led by Head of School Susan Parker-Stone, have such dedication and belief in the value of oracy. Its influence extends beyond the children’s time with us, continuing to shape their learning journey after they leave our school.”

You can download and read the full report here.  

Longsight Community Primary is a Big Life School. Big Life Schools work as part of the wider Big Life group, working in partnership with communities to build on local strengths, develop resilience and widen educational and early years opportunities.