London Voice is an exciting new oracy pilot project, bringing together creative writing and talk, to help young people develop as writers who have a voice.
Building on the success of our Young Writers Programme, London Voice provides intensive extracurricular creative writing and performance activities, empowering young people to increase confidence, creativity, literacy and oracy skills.
This opportunity is open to six schools in Greater London in 2024/25, with the opportunity to continue as a London Voice school for up to three years. As a London Voice school, you’ll become part of a supportive network of teachers passionate about developing students’ social and emotional skills through oracy.
What’s included?
Core cohort
- 16 x creative writing workshops with an inspiring Writer-in-Residence
- A professionally published anthology
- 1 x oracy skills workshop with a specialist performance coach
- Performance for broadcast and opportunity to learn new technical and presentation skills
- Performance-focused Connect event, bringing together all six schools at a cultural or HE institution in London
- Opportunity to apply for prestigious progression opportunities, including a fully-funded Summer Residential place and Folio Academy Mentorship
Whole school engagement
- Three national writing competitions
- Invitation to attend First Story’s national Young Writers Festival at Cambridge University
- Professional Writer-in-Residence in your school as an inspiring role model
- Support to hold celebratory anthology launch event
For teachers
- Access to our online Schools Hub, plus tailored support from our London Programme and Partnerships team
- CPD access, including best practice in teaching oracy workshop (with teacher release voucher)
- A peer network of 6 schools, with shared learning and support
- Key contribution to evaluation and development of this new pilot programme supported by The Open University and Oracy Cambridge
Become a London Voice School
For further information about London Voice, download the project leaflet here.
To register your interest in becoming a London Voice school, please contact Alice Frecknall, alice.frecknall@firststory.org.uk, who will be happy to arrange a phone call or a visit to your school.
London Voice is generously funded by the St Paul’s Schools Foundation and supported by The Mercers’ Company. This helps keep affordable the contribution fee paid by each participating school. London Voice is being developed in conversation with the Open University and evaluated in consultation with Oracy Cambridge.
