Pupils will develop their oracy and public speaking skills through a bespoke curriculum of engaging lessons. Throughout the year, students focus on talk, discussion, and debate and develop their ability to express ideas, listen actively, and build arguments. A variety of oracy activities are interwoven with key citizenship themes, including relationships, democracy, and human rights, encouraging pupils to explore and understand their role in society. This combination ensures that every lesson is both thought-provoking and relevant, equipping students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
By exploring citizenship themes such as democracy, relationships, and human rights, pupils develop a strong sense of social responsibility and the ability to think critically about the world around them. This subject enables students to become articulate, informed, and active participants in their communities, prepared to lead and make meaningful contributions.
There are no external exams for Dialectics and Civics. Instead, students are assessed internally at regular intervals to evaluate their proficiency and confidence in a variety of speaking scenarios: individual speeches, group discussions, and formal debates. This approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of their progress and the development of communication skills.
Year 7 content
- Relationships: Identity and Community – Speaking
- How can we vary our voices?
- How are ethos, pathos and logos used to make speech impactful?
- What creates identities and how can they change?
- How do we communicate in our communities?
- Government: Democracy and Power – Discussing
- How can we communicate empathetically with others?
- How can we build upon others’ speech?
- Why is the role of law important?
- How does democracy impact us?
- What are the roles of local councils and councillors?
- People: Rights and Responsibilities – Debating
- How can we engage in a formal debate?
- How well are children’s rights protected in the UK?
- Are we getting our right to reliable and accurate information?
- Does the media create more harm than good?
Year 8 content
- Relationships: Crime and Justice – Speaking
- What rhetorical devices can I use to make speech impactful?
- What is the role of the police?
- Who is held criminally responsible?
- Government: Parliament and Politics – Discussing
- How can speech be used to convince?
- What is our political system?
- People: Petition and Protest – Debating
- How do MPs debate?
- How do juries make decisions?
- Who has power?
