Students Develop Oracy Skills With the National Literacy Trust ( Published: 05/05/2026)

Year 9 students recently completed the National Literacy Trust’s ‘Aspire’ project, in partnership with Browne Jacobson.

Students have recently celebrated the successful completion of the National Literacy Trust’s Aspire project, delivered in partnership with leading law firm Browne Jacobson. The project provided students with a valuable opportunity to develop confidence, ambition and communication skills while gaining insight into professional workplaces and future career pathways.

Throughout the programme, students took part in a series of interactive workshops, some led by volunteers from Browne Jacobson, focusing on developing confidence in public speaking and presentation skills. A strong emphasis was placed on communication, teamwork and presenting ideas clearly and confidently – skills that are crucial for success in both education and beyond. The project culminated in students presenting their ideas for a community improvement project to legal professionals from the firm, including a barrister.

The Aspire project strongly reflects our school value of Ambition, encouraging students to set high expectations for themselves and to believe in their potential. This project also links closely with our ongoing work in school to improve students’ oracy skills. Developing strong spoken communication is a key priority, and Aspire provided a meaningful, real-world context for students to practise speaking, listening and expressing ideas effectively. Through discussions, presentations and collaborative tasks, students were able to apply the oracy strategies they are developing in lessons, reinforcing the importance of clear and confident communication.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the National Literacy Trust and the team at Browne Jacobson for their continued support and commitment to inspiring young people. Opportunities such as the Aspire project play a vital role in preparing students for the future, and we look forward to building on this partnership as part of our wider work to raise aspirations, strengthen oracy and support every student to achieve their best.