Submissions

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE GREAT ORACY EXHIBITION ARE NOW CLOSED

Read the PDF version of the Guidance for Speakers here.

Great Oracy Exhibition 2023 Session Applications

As the biggest oracy event of 2023, the Great Oracy Exhibition is host to the greatest experience of oracy teaching practice, innovation and performance in schools from across the UK. 

We’re looking to create: 

• A showcase and celebration of oracy classroom practice and student outcomes, enabling teachers to experience talk-rich teaching and student performances 

• Inspiring sessions from education leaders and experts to expand the oracy skills and knowledge of attendees through participatory workshops and dialogic exhibitions

• Engaging conversations around the big questions at the heart of oracy pedagogy and practice

• A space to exchange ideas, make connections and learn from fellow leaders of oracy 

How to take part:

We’re inviting colleagues from Voice 21 Oracy Schools to apply to lead a session at the Great Oracy Exhibition to showcase and share their oracy practice and student outcomes. 

This could be sharing a particular oracy approach that’s had an impact in your classroom or school context; sharing your school’s unique oracy journey; or showcasing your students’ oracy skills and breaking down how you supported them to get there. 

It’s a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of your oracy work across the sector, develop your voice as a leader and share your learning with peers who are passionate about the impact of oracy.

If you’re interested in applying, please complete this google form by  Sunday 25 June.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss your application before sending it in at events@voice21.org

General Information

The Great Oracy Exhibition 2023 will take place Tuesday 10th October, in person, at Kings House Conference Centre, Sidney Street, Manchester, M1 7HB. 

The day will start at 08:45 and end by approximately 16:00. You are not required to attend the whole day as a speaker but are invited to.

Want to join us as a speaker?

The Exhibition sessions will be approximately 35 minutes long and we’ll be able to provide a variety of spaces. Please provide as much detail as you can at this stage as this will help us in our planning, scheduling and promotional activities.

The Exhibition is going to be a dialogic experience and we discourage sessions that haven’t considered how the audience will be able to participate.

All speakers are required to attend in person to deliver their session. We are unable to provide printing for sessions. 

Submissions for session applications will close midnight Sunday 25th June 2023. Applicants will be notified of the outcome at the beginning of July. 

If successful, speakers will be provided with a session facilitator from Voice 21. The session facilitator will be the point of contact in the run up to the GOE and on the day of the event. They will help with session content, slide preparation and lead Q&A.

Tickets

• The speaker delivering a session at the GOE will receive one free ticket for the event. 

• Additional named speakers will receive a 10% discount on the ticket price

• Speakers are free to attend any sessions throughout the day as part of their complimentary ticket.

• Breakfast refreshments and lunch on the day are included. 

• For student showcase sessions only, the speaker will be given an additional two complimentary tickets to bring 2 or more students to the GOE. These tickets must be used to support the attendance of students at the event.

Voice 21 is unable to cover travel/accomodation costs for speakers. This should be arranged by the speaker. 

We don’t want travel costs to be a barrier to participation from speakers based across the country. Please contact the Voice 21 team if cost is going to be a barrier to your attendance as we may be able to offer assistance at events@voice21.org.

There will be three formats for teacher-led sessions plus a wildcard: 

Type of session

A showcase of ‘live’ classroom practice 

These sessions allow participants to experience a particular approach to oracy teaching and learning. The sessions will cover: 

• what’s the approach, 

• what steps were taken to implement it,

• what’s been the impact on pupils in the classroom and/or across the school and

• what key learnings can be taken away by participants to try in their schools.
  
  

They may be run as a live lesson and include students. Or, participants could be immersed in an approach, as if they were students.

Session example here.

A student showcase

Students are invited to showcase their oracy skills - whether a speech, debate, performance poetry or exhibition of work.

We ask that teachers bookend the performance with an explanation of the steps taken to create the oracy outcome (e.g. key considerations, relation to the curriculum, how specific skills were taught in preparation for the day).

Session example here.

Our school story

Teachers are invited to tell their school’s oracy story. The sessions will include: 

• school context, motivations for developing oracy and their vision for oracy; 

• innovative practice developed in school and the impact on pupils; and 

• key learnings that can be taken away by participants to consider for their schools.

Session example here.

Wildcard

If you session does not fit with the examples above please do still submit your proposal