DURHAM University researchers from four different subject areas are joining forces to help North East school pupils improve their communication skills.

The ‘Shy Bairns Get Nowt’ project will see classics, education, English and psychology professors combine their expertise to support the teaching of oracy skills in North East primary and secondary schools.

They will work with teachers to develop resources for teaching oracy – verbal communication and listening skills – as well as visiting schools to help pupils learn effective communication techniques.

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Together, the academics will create a forum to share knowledge, experience and methodological approaches to support teachers in the teaching of oracy in North East classrooms.

Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson, Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University, is leading the project and is passionate about equipping the region’s youngsters with the skills they need to become effective communicators.

She said: “We want to empower young people to find and use their voice.

“As a group of academics, we’re committed to supporting Durham University to make a positive contribution to our region.

“This is particularly important because we know that young people attending schools in the North East are disadvantaged compared to elsewhere in the country.

“On average they fell further behind than any other region during the pandemic, with oracy skills particularly impacted.

“Compared to pupils who attend independent schools, pupils in state-maintained schools have less widespread access to extra-curricular debating clubs, Model United Nations competitions and Harkness discussions.

“So we want to help bridge that gap and use our expertise to upskill teachers and work with pupils so they feel more confident to use their voice effectively in a range of contexts.”

The 12-month project is being funded by an Arts and Humanities Faculty Research Accelerator Award.

Dr Holmes-Henderson already holds a British Academy Innovation Fellowship which examines the relationship between oracy, social mobility and employability.

The design and delivery of teacher training resources will be done via a partnership with the Voice 21 North East Oracy Hub.

Beccy Earnshaw, CEO, Voice 21 said: “We at Voice 21 are delighted to be working partnership with Arlene and her colleagues at Durham University.

“Together, we’ll explore new ways of translating cutting-edge research into improved classroom practice.

“Arlene has worked with Voice 21 in London on several projects but this new project, with a focus on the North East, comes at exactly the right time.

“With increasing importance being placed on spoken communication by employers and others, I am delighted that Durham University is investing in its local and regional communities.”

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The project will also see Durham academics collaborate with international colleagues in Norway, Spain, Slovenia, Poland and the USA to share their expertise via an international conference.

Professor Holmes-Henderson said: “Together, we hope that we can create something that will have a significant impact across the North East, and the long-term aim is that our training and resources can be rolled out to other schools across the country.

“It is very important that we work with teachers to co-produce these resources, we are not at all saying we know everything, we want to collaborate with the teachers themselves because they are the experts in their classrooms."