Yr8 to Yr10 Literacy Days - June 2025

“Mankind's greatest achievements have come about by talking, and its greatest failures by not talking.” Stephen Hawking 

This week, St. Mary’s proudly hosted its inaugural series of Literacy Days, marking a new tradition focused on celebrating the power of spoken language. With a special emphasis on Oracy, pupils from Years 8, 9, and 10 explored the four pillars of Oracy: physical, linguistic, cognitive, and social-emotional through a series of interactive and engaging activities. The school was buzzing with excitement as pupils  took part in vocabulary relay races, articulation drills, and expressive speaking exercises- all designed to enhance their use of pitch, volume, tone, pause, and eye contact.

The Literacy Days were thoughtfully designed to build pupils’ confidence, communication skills and creative thinking; from practising persuasive language to refining their enunciation, pupils were encouraged to express themselves with clarity and purpose. The day concluded with a highlight: the “Sixty Second Speech Competition,” where pupils showcased their newly developed Oracy skills in front of their peers and teachers. Each speech reflected the creativity, confidence, and progress made throughout the workshops. A heartfelt thank you goes to Ms. Cumiskey ( Literacy Co-ordinator) for her organisation and to our Senior Prefects, whose support helped ensure the smooth running of the event.

Yr8 to Yr10 Literacy Day - June 2025