Record-Breaking Results in English Speaking Board Assessments

It is with great pleasure that we announce our students’ outstanding achievement in the English Speaking Board (ESB) Assessments. Our Years 4 and 6 students have received record-breaking results this year, with 100% receiving Distinction or Merit Plus. The results are testament to their hard work, talent and dedication throughout the process which required immense commitment outside of School as well as within lessons. They should all be incredibly proud of themselves and we would like to take the opportunity to also thank the parents and guardians who supported them through the process.

Flickr album: ESB Certificate Assembly | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin

What have the students gained through the ESB Speech Qualification?

An Ofqual accredited qualification that is recognised in the UK and across Europe, and for some the first of a bank of recognised expertise in Speech and Presentation which they will build on through their academic career.

The assessment takes the shape of four main stages; Talk and Present, Speaking by Heart and Reading Aloud, all followed by a question-and-answer session where students are assessed on how they listen, react and respond to questions and interactions about their chosen pieces.

The books, poems and presentation topics are students own choices, with every person having the autonomy to express their passions and interests. Understanding that their own choices are the most authentic thing that they can share with an audience meant that poems, prose and presentations were wild and wonderful and delivered with great affection and confidence. From Slime to Scuba Diving, Harry Potter to Roald Dahl, Music to Mexico – anything could be discussed.

The practicalities of committing a poem to memory, reading aloud and presenting to a group taught the students how to use the English language creatively to express emotion and add rhythm and fluency to the way they speak, developing their vocabulary along the way. A range of memory skills and presentation skills were fine tuned during the process, learning that time management and structure are the building blocks to public speaking.

How has the process of studying for the qualification helped Students on a wider level?

The assessments are carried out in groups - replicating real life opportunities for speaking and listening, meaning the skills honed are diversely applicable to so many experiences and teaches students from a young age how to work collaboratively to support one another.

The process of the assessments has a positive impact on mental health, empathy, learner agency, confidence, sense of identity, self-esteem, determination, resilience, collaborative learning and of course academic achievement.

What the students said about the experience.

“I focused on doing my best and bringing positive energy to the experience”.

“The strategies that we learned have already helped to make me happy in difficult situations”.

“I’m proud of myself for getting out there and doing it when I really thought I couldn’t”.

“I know how to speak confidently now and how to give long flowing answers”.

“My focus in other lessons has really improved”.

“I know now that if I get a part in a play that has lots of lines, I have the skills to memorise them”.

“I think I will be more confident with making friends now which will help me through life”.

“This assessment has built my confidence up so much; I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to do it and to push myself out of my comfort zone. I’m so proud of myself”.