[In Person] Oracy: the politics of speech education

Date: Wednesday 25th June 2025

Time: 12.00-14.15pm

Location: C41 Dearing Building (in person only)

Oracy—the explicit teaching of speaking and listening—has become one of the most talked-about ideas in modern education. But where did it come from? Is it straightforwardly positive, or does it carry hidden costs and consequences? How can educators hope to resolve the persistent challenges around definition, pedagogy, and assessment? What does it mean for universities?

Join us for a seminar with Tom F. Wright, Chair of the Department of English at the University of Sussex and editor of Oracy: The Politics of Speech Education (Cambridge University Press, 2025). This groundbreaking collection brings together teachers, school leaders, sociolinguists, historians, and political thinkers to explore the cultural and political life of oracy. In this talk, Dr. Wright will summarise the book’s findings and contributors’ interventions, and reflect on their implications for higher education—especially around widening participation, civic engagement, and building inclusive academic cultures.

As well as the seminar, you are invited to stay on (after a brief break) for a follow-up hour of open discussion about the disciplinary principles, practices and potential of oracy in the HE sector specifically. Guided by some discussion prompts, this will be a valuable opportunity for sharing and developing our understandings of this topic.

Also check out other Workshops in Nottingham.