“We welcome this report and the focus it places on oracy as a key skill for students and employers. While many schools teach oracy well, its status has slipped backwards after it was dropped as part of the grade for GCSE English Language 10 years ago.
“An increased emphasis on oracy education across the curriculum – balanced against the many other expectations on schools – is a good starting point for reform.
“GCSE English Language does not currently work well for all students, and we have argued for the introduction of a proficiency qualification that better serves young people and employers. Oracy could be a part of such a qualification.
“We urge the government’s independent curriculum and assessment review to take this golden opportunity to improve a system of assessing English which currently leaves more than a third of students without the dignity of at least a Grade 4 standard pass.”