Supported by trainers from ‘Talk The Talk’, an organisation whose aim is to develop students’ communication skills through oracy intervention, students were encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, away from people they knew at primary school, to interact with others who are still relatively new to them.

Defined as the means to ‘express oneself fluently’, oracy explores the importance of spoken language and verbal communication to articulate ideas and engage with others. Through their ‘Talk about Transition’ workshop, Talk The Talk supports students using oracy-based activities and strategies to enhance self-confidence, resilience and empathy.

Working within small groups, students were given a platform to share their thoughts about starting high school and to set themselves goals for the year ahead. They were asked to identify what they see as the opportunities and challenges facing them, and the responses and solutions they think are needed to embrace and overcome them respectively.

Students were also encouraged to interview each other, allowing them to get to know one another while developing their skills of questioning, listening and responding. Joining the process were the year 7 form tutors whose presence not only provided support, but afforded them an opportunity to further get to know their new tutees – helping to reinforce a bond that will support them in the delivery of pastoral care.

Connie Jones, a member of the year 7 tutor team, said: “It was an absolutely quality event with a superb range of fun activities to boost students’ communication skills – bringing many young people out of their comfort zones with a new-found confidence. It was a total joy to witness.”

A spokesman for Talk The Talk added: “Transition to secondary school involves changes that can be both exciting and a cause of concern to students. Successful transition is vital to the development of students’ self-confidence, self-esteem and academic competence. Moving on from the safe haven of primary school - one classroom and often one teacher - to a much larger school and the feeling of being a ‘small fish in a large pond’ can cause worry and anxiety. Our programme embraces this change and allows students to talk about their concerns and how to overcome them and the fantastic opportunities that await them and how best to embrace these.”

Viki Foster, event organiser and school careers leader, said: “Our year 7 students were outstanding. They embraced the tasks and were fully engaged in everything they were asked to do. The day provided lots of opportunities for staff and students to start creating relationships which will support them throughout their time at Withernsea High School. New friendships were forged and skills were developed as students came out of their comfort zones to speak in front of their peers.

“Such communications skills are essential for young people to learn and develop, which will not only help them through school but will also be tremendously useful as they move into the workforce of the future. We are incredibly proud of the students for the confidence and maturity shown and we would like to thank Talk The Talk for delivering such a fantastic and useful workshop.”

As well as forming part of the high school induction process, the oracy workshop also provided an introduction to the school’s career programme – a comprehensive collection of activities, events and experiences that aids the development of crucial employability skills and supports students in making informed choices about their futures.

Viki added: “The ability to communicate clearly and confidently is an essential skill that employers rate highly and it is something that we help students to develop by providing them with opportunities to regularly meet representatives from post-16 providers and local and national businesses, both in school and on external visits, to help boost their confidence and experience of speaking to strangers.

“These experiences culminate in a mock interview day in year 11 where students will be interviewed one-on-one by a visiting employer or a representative from a further or higher education provider. This will put their communication skills to the test, under the pressures of an interview situation, which will further help prepare them for future college, apprenticeship and employment interviews.”  

ABOVE: Year 7 students Isaac and Marc engage with a trainer from Talk The Talk during their ‘Talk about Transition’ workshop.