Students speak up at Hunstanton workshop

Budding speakers from three West Norfolk secondary schools came together to hone their communication and oracy skills at a one-day workshop.

Hosted by Smithdon High School in Hunstanton as part of the Insight Discover Programme for high-achieving students, Talk the Talk: Talk About Communication was attended by 12 Year 8 students from the school, along with their counterparts from Marshland and St Clement’s – all fellow members of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

Trainers from the educational charity Talk the Talk led a masterclass for the group, which was designed to develop speaking and listening skills, and culminated in the students delivering two-minute presentations to their peers on topics of their choice.

“This is the first time that Smithdon High School has participated in the Talk the Talk event; however, we have been part of the Insight Discover Programme, which has been delivered to select Year 7 and 8 Students, for a number of years,” said Laura Ruskin, who teaches Art Design and Design and Technology at the school, as well as running the Year 7 and 8 Insight Discover Programmes and Year 8 Scholars Programme.

Talk the Talk was founded in 2013 and, since then, has delivered over 7,000 workshops to more than 170,000 secondary school students, providing some 31,000 hours of student training.

“These events are a fantastic opportunity, and we love being able to offer these experiences to our students who take part,” continued Miss Ruskin, who organised the day with the help of Hollie Butcher, Technician for the Art, Design Technology and Food Department at Smithdon.

“They are aimed at helping to improve the oral and written skills of students, in addition to raising students’ future aspirations,” she added. “This is really important, as it helps to build confidence in students. 

“We also welcome being able to show off our school and create links with local schools in the area.”