Headteacher's Message - 16/01/26

The Importance of Oracy at St Mark’s

Oracy—our ability to communicate effectively through spoken language—is a foundational life skill. It shapes how    confidently we can express ideas, listen to others, engage in problem‑solving, and build positive relationships. It will be no surprise that strong oracy skills are strongly linked to improved academic outcomes, better job prospects, and greater confidence in adult life.

When children learn to articulate their thinking clearly, they develop not only their speaking and listening abilities, but also their reasoning, vocabulary, empathy, and self-belief. We want this for each and every child at St Mark’s.

Therefore, one of our key priorities this year is to strengthen opportunities for oracy within the curriculum. We know that when children are explicitly taught how to speak well—whether in discussions, presentations, debates or performances—they become more active learners and are more likely to become ambassadors for change. Embedding oracy across subjects ensures that every child has the chance to find their voice.

One exciting way we are developing this is through the Look Who’s Talking competition launched this term. The competition is already giving pupils a structured and motivating platform to practise high-quality speaking, build confidence, and celebrate the power of their voice. Below is a summary from Mr Sim. 

Look Who's Talking Competition

Over the past two weeks, our school has enjoyed an inspiring series of presentations as part of the Look Who’s Talking competition. Children from across all year groups impressed us with an incredible variety of topics — from crocheting techniques, golf, religion, history, the arts, and rollerblading, to heartfelt personal reflections such as navigating challenges with dyslexia.

Every participant showed tremendous courage, speaking confidently in front of a large audience with clear articulation engaging their audience, ensuring that the judging process was particularly challenging. 

After much thoughtful deliberation, we are delighted to announce the two students who will be representing our school in the next stage of the competition:

· Lower School: Eleanor, who delivered a captivating presentation about her hobby of bouldering.

· Upper School: Riana, who impressed us with her insightful talk on artificial intelligence and how it works.

We are incredibly proud of all the children who took part. Their confidence, creativity, and the wide range of topics shared made this year’s competition truly outstanding.

With my best wishes for a lovely weekend, 

Mrs A Fitch and the Staff Team