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Oracy Day at St Clement Danes

On Thursday 28th June, Year 7s experienced a day where all learning was underpinned by speaking and listening.  The aim was ‘Learning to talk; learning through talk’ and teachers planned and delivered innovative lessons across the curriculum.  Highlights included maths lessons discussing the statistical probabilities of success for different teams in the World Cup, debates designed to deepen and challenge students’ viewpoints in history and geography, student presentations in many subjects and learning l’art de parler in French through song, chant and interviews.

In a very different kind of assembly, students were asked to participate actively by moving into different groups, sharing stories in trios, discussing topics and finishing by listening to feedback in a strong circle.  One student said, “I liked the assembly as it wasn’t a usual one where you would sit down and listen in silence – you got a chance to have a say in it, which I thoroughly enjoyed” and another said “It was a time for me to reflect and communicate with others”.

Over 200 students responded to a survey, with the vast majority enjoying the activities on the day.  One said, “I enjoyed it very much and thought it was interesting and engaging.  I also think that it helped my learning”. Overall, 78% would like more opportunities to learn speaking skills in school.

Some students found the day challenging as they are less confident; we want to work with all the students by giving them opportunities to find their voices and give them strategies to make their voices heard, confident, meaningful, kind, positive, like-changing, remembered, unique, recognised and all the other responses which the students shared on the day.

If you want to find out more about oracy and what we are doing in school, you can follow @SCDOracy on Twitter.

Nicola Spencer

Whole school oracy coordinator

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19th December

Charities Week 2025

The halls of St Clement Danes School have been buzzing with holiday cheer this week as the annual Charities Week is officially in full swing. As the Autumn Term draws to a close, pupils and staff have united to raise vital funds for three incredible causes: Endometriosis UK, Spread a Smile, and Herts Young Homeless. The school is alive with the spirit of giving, driven by a jam packed ‘Advent’ schedule designed to get everyone involved in the fundraising efforts. This year’s itinerary has been filled with exciting activities, ranging from pupil led lessons and a "Mystery Bucket" challenge to the competitive excitement of the "Elf Auction" and various competitions. Pupils have also enjoyed the classic "Sponge the Teacher" event and a visit to Santa’s Grotto, ensuring the festive atmosphere is matched only by the community’s generosity. Beyond the classroom activities, pupils have been sharing the festive spirit with the wider community. On 18th December, the SCD Senior Choir paid a special visit to Chorleywood Manor Care Home. The residents were treated to a beautiful selection of Christmas carols, featuring performances by members of the Chamber Choir, Evensong Choir, and the Barbershop Choir. Year 12 pupils Immy and Chrissie noted that "it was a very joyful occasion and it was lovely to see the residents joining in and looking so happy." The success of such a busy week relies heavily on pupil leadership, and the school extends a massive vote of thanks to Year 13 for their incredible hard work and dedication. Their enthusiasm have been the driving force behind this week's fundraising efforts. The week is set to conclude on Friday with the Grand Finale: the highly anticipated Sixth Form Revue, promising a spectacular end to a week of community, charity and celebration.