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Twigg calls for public speaking lessons in state schools

24 May 2012

The shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg says training in communication skills would help more pupils to compete with their privately-educated peers for top jobs and university places.

Some state schools do run such classes, but Twigg says they should form part of the national curriculum.

Speaking at an academy school in west London, Mr Twigg said:

If we are to break down the barriers that stop some bright young people succeeding, then being articulate and confident is critical.

Spoken skills have not had enough of a focus within state schools but it is clear this needs to change. We know that many private schools focus on debating and on interview coaching, helping their students get another leg up toward the best universities and jobs.

Labour wants all pupils to have the same opportunities to develop their verbal communication and presentation skills. This is about modernising our schools system to improve life chances.

He said private school pupils were more likely to practise debating, with fee-paying schools disproportionately represented in national and international debating competitions.

Recently, the Education Secretary Michael Gove said graduates who had been to private schools still dominated positions of wealth and power in what he said was the UK's "profoundly unequal" society. The Government says its pupil premium scheme - where schools are given extra cash for students from low-income homes - will help drive up achievement.

Our Words for Work programme helps teenagers develop good communication skills.

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Tags: Children, NLT Campaigns, Policy, Young People

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