Talk at TEMA ( Published: 16/07/2026)

Students are known and loved at TEMA; what they think and feel is important. Their voice matters. It is important to all staff in TEMA’s community that students feel safe, supported and heard.

We know that an oracy toolkit, along with our values driven and knowledge rich curriculum, provide our students with the pathway to future success. Through student voice and consultation with our student leaders, TEMA’s ‘Rules for Talk’ have been agreed and shared via assemblies.

Deliberate opportunities for talk are woven into our curriculum and used to elevate learning. Below are a sample of the exciting opportunities empowering TEMA’s students to make meaningful contributions to TEMA, the wider community and societies of the future.

Our student leaders and the newly formed Spoken Word Collective have had the opportunity to plan and deliver performances that share students’ views. This term, these have included: our REACH values, how students can make a positive contribution to communities and demonstrating gratitude to the adults at TEMA that support them so well.

Our students attended a Q&A with MP Lucy Powell:

Lucy Powell MP, discussing gender equality pledges with our students for International Women’s Day, in March 2026

Year 9 students during the DHL GoTeach Programme in April 2026

Oracy is a fundamental part of our employer engagement work. 40 Year 9 students worked alongside volunteers from DHL on their three week Go Teach programme, taking part in discussions, presentations and collaborative problem-solving activities; valuable practice in expressing their ideas clearly, listening to others and speaking with confidence in a professional context.

One of our Year 9 classes worked on the National Literacy Trust’s Aspire programme, working on a community project proposal which they then pitched to volunteers from legal firm Browne Jacobson.

Student work during the National Literacy Trust’s ‘Aspire’ project in 2026

Students presenting at the Teleperformance (TP) offices in Manchester, in May 2026

A group of Year 9 students visited Teleperformance offices in Manchester to complete a Brand Challenge which involved them pitching their own digital business ideas! The organisers described students as ‘switched on, engaged, and genuinely interested in everything we do at Teleperformance’.

We recently had a full day dedicated to students’ powerful voices in Year 8. The day finished with a live debate where students could share their views on topics that matter to them.

Talk at TEMA continues to develop and strengthen teaching across our community. As students’ confidence increases, so does their willingness to speak to larger and larger audiences.

Year 8 during the Powerful Voices Day in 2026

Thank you to the staff for all of their hard work, teaching and support, in embracing oracy as a transformative step in preparing our young people for their futures.

Every interaction counts and effective communication is at the heart of what we do.