Unlocking Oracy

“Unlocking Oracy by Sullivan, Heaton, and Lowde is a fantastic resource that highlights just how essential spoken language is in education and beyond. This book combines solid research with incredibly practical advice, making it perfect for teachers who want to help students find their voices and build confidence in speaking and listening and learning itself. What I really appreciate about this work is how full it is of adaptable, ready-to-use strategies that fit a variety of ages and abilities, making it versatile for any classroom setting.

The authors do an excellent job linking oracy to academic progress, social skills, and even emotional development. Each chapter offers reflective questions, real-life examples, and activities that can be tailored to different students, making it easy to put their ideas into practice.

For anyone looking to create a talk-rich environment where students can think, communicate, and engage with one another meaningfully, Unlocking Oracy is a must-read.”

Amjad Ali, Trust Training & Inclusion Lead, Chiltern Learning Trust

“We know that speech, language and communication skills are vital for students' development and participation in the world around them and yet Oracy often proves a controversial and misunderstood subject in schools. In Unlocking Oracy, Sullivan, Heaton and Lowde make a compelling case that Oracy should be an essential part of our school development and that it unlocks doors for both students and teachers. As well as drawing on a huge evidence base, the myriad of practical strategies and excellent case studies in the book further bring Oracy to life.

This book is essential for any school leader wanting to know how and why we need to harness the power of Oracy in our schools.”

Rachel Ball, Coaching Development Lead, Steplab

“In Unlocking Oracy, Nikki Sullivan, Kelly Heaton and Lucy Lowde couldn’t make it any easier to learn about evidence informed oracy practice which can be implemented at a classroom and whole school level. What a comprehensive book!

What I really loved about this book was how easy it is to understand and apply the strategies in the classroom exemplified through the pedagogical practices and the case studies.

Highly recommend this book for all!”

Yamina Bibi, Education Consultant, Project Manager and former Deputy Headteacher

“This must-read book is brimming with practical strategies, expert insights, and real-classroom examples on developing oracy. It explores the latest research, offers scripts from various subjects, and provides clear guidance on how teachers can implement and nurture spoken language skills. Eye-opening statistics on oracy and speech underscore its importance, whilst reflections from leading educationalists highlight its transformative impact—particularly in supporting student self-reflection and deeper learning.

A wealth of wisdom in one essential read!”

Dr Jo Castelino, Curriculum Leader for Science, Author of The Homework Conundrum

“Unlocking Oracy highlights the importance of developing speaking and listening with students in our schools in a meticulous way. The authors have expertly explored the research and distilled it into perspective so that teachers and leaders can consider how to unlock oracy in their schools. From pedagogical practices to educational insights from leading voices in education, this book provides a platform for a 'way in' for students to build confidence in their speech, language and communication skills. Highly recommend.”

Michael Chiles, Headteacher, Author and Speaker

“As someone who knew very little about how to incorporate oracy meaningfully into lessons, this book has been an absolute joy to read from cover to cover. The authors are skilled at discussing oracy and providing practical advice whilst not suggesting it become a teacher’s sole focus. This measured approach, in addition to the authors’ expertise and their treatment of research, makes this book particularly important in this space and means teachers need only made small adaptations to their teaching.

I highly recommend this book for all teachers.”

Sarah Cottinghatt, Professional Development Consultant

“Unlocking Oracy took what I thought I knew about oracy, completely rearranged it, and then added hundreds of insights, pieces of research, and practical strategies to it. Unlocking Oracy explores many oracy myths and misconceptions, plays devil's advocate, and then evaluates a huge range of evidence about the breadth and potential impact of oracy for our pupils.

The expert case studies from some of the best educational thinkers only adds to both the credibility of the subject matter, but the hugely practical and tangible focus the book has on improving our oracy provision in schools.”

Sam Crome, Director of Education at Xavier CET; Author of The Power of Teams

“In this brilliantly practical and accessible book, the authors bring the well-established evidence base on oracy bang up-to-date, by considering it through the lens of the latest research from cognitive science and educational psychology.

Crucially, Nikki, Kelly and Lucy translate the research into high-impact, actionable classroom strategies, so teachers can increase their confidence and improve their practice, and students can be empowered to find and articulate their voices in the classroom and the world.

Unlocking Oracy is an essential read for busy classroom practitioners.”

Sam Gibbs, Trust Lead for Curriculum & Development, Greater Manchester Education Trust

“In this book, Sullivan, Heaton, and Lowde guide us expertly through what Oracy is, what it isn't, and what it means for the day-to-day practice of teachers. The book is thought-provoking from the off: the opening chapter offers a lens through which to view Oracy which, as a maths teacher, was an empathetic and helpful reminder that Oracy is the responsibility of all teachers, regardless of subject or phase.

Each chapter is grounded in research and is full of expert insights and case studies from current teachers about the impact of Oracy and what it looks like in actual classrooms and schools, resulting in a book that will be an incredibly useful and valuable tool for both teachers and school leaders alike.

If you're thinking about oracy, then look no further. And if you're not, maybe this book will convince you to think again.”

Amarbeer Singh Gill, Teacher Educator: Ambition Institute, and Assistant Director: Greenshaw Research School

“This book is a compelling exploration of Oracy as both a fundamental learning tool and a vital life skill. It makes a persuasive case for why structured talk should be central to education, not just to improve academic outcomes but to build confident, articulate individuals.

The discussion of Unlocking Oracy highlights its role in deepening understanding, while chapters on Making Meaning and Strengthening Memory show how spoken language can transform the way students engage with knowledge. The book also underscores the importance of Oracy beyond the classroom, particularly in Personal Development and Confident Communication, equipping young people with the skills to express themselves effectively in any setting.

Well-researched and practical, this book is both a guide and a call to action. It challenges educators to think differently about talk in the classroom and offers valuable strategies to ensure that all students—not just the naturally vocal—develop their voices.

A must-read for anyone committed to fostering meaningful learning and genuine equity in education.”

David Goodwin, Trust Wide Teaching and Learning Lead, Harbour Learning Trust

“The authors’ thoughts on oracy have been quite brilliantly distilled into this book which all at once, provides a rich appraisal of the educational landscape relating to oracy and points us in the direction of how to collectively improve it.

The core message of the book is made clear at the beginning and continues to run all the way through – oracy is more than being ‘about speaking and listening’. Sullivan, Heaton and Lowde show us that oracy is about the development of speaking and listening and they draw on a remarkably wide range of existing literature to do that. They also make a point that is so easily lost yet so crucial to fulfilling the purpose of oracy – it is not a compartment on its own, something to be boxed off and done in a timetabled slot for one lesson in a unit of ten for example. Oracy is a means of supporting learning throughout a learning journey and across the full curriculum.

This point feels like it then becomes the catalyst for the book as the authors expertly show us how to weave oracy skillfully into the fabric of curriculum and teaching. I feel a better teacher for reading this seminal piece on oracy and now more equipped to, as the book’s opening line says, use oracy to open doors.”

Adam Kohlbeck, Deputy Headteacher: Birkbeck School, and co-founder of EduPulse

“Unlocking Oracy is exactly what the sector needs right now. We know that developing Oracy is important, and yet it can sometimes feel as though it’s another element that we somehow have to shoehorn into our provision. The authors have not only made the case for deep Oracy as an entitlement for all young people, they have also provided evidence of improved outcomes. Furthermore, the authors have also shown that it can be done sensitively and effectively within our current practice.

Laden with examples and brilliant case studies, Unlocking Oracy is an absolute boon to the sector.”

Mary Myatt, Education writer and speaker

“Promoting oracy is often a very popular idea in schools, but how to go about it in practice with success is less well understood. Happily, Unlocking Oracy opens the door on a wealth of understanding for every teacher. It poses practical insights and compelling ideas that unlock oracy, from strengthening memory and reflection, to building confidence and securing attention. It is rich with case studies, practical ideas, and a way forward for busy teachers.”

Alex Quigley, Consultant, author, and Head of Content & Engagement at the EEF

“Barak Obama said, ‘Your voice can change the world.’ The importance of what we say, how we say it, and why we say it cannot therefore be understated, underplayed or undervalued. Talk illuminates the hidden worlds inside our pupils’ minds, and it can open and introduce their minds to myriad different interpretations of the world and the human experience. Talk is more than words, and oracy is more than a bolt on to pedagogy. Communication is fundamental to the human experience; from our mimetic age of representational acts to the current theoretic age, the ability to share our ideas, experience and wisdom have been the bedrock of our development as humans.

This book is therefore a timely tome, a handbook to accompany teachers on their own journey to develop effective, informed and manageable ways to integrate impactful oracy into their practice and the experiences of their pupils. This is a thoughtful and rich work, hugely accessible and immensely practical.

For anyone who wants to harness or reignite the power and potential of oracy, this is the book to begin the change.”

Emma Turner, School Improvement Advisor, Flexible Working Champion, Author, Curriculum and Primary Expert