The Guardian view on talking in class: the writers speaking up for oracy education are right | Editorial

Verbal communication has always been crucial. But today more than ever, young people must be equipped for jobs that can’t be done by machinesTwo years ago, Sir Keir Starmer enthused about teaching speaking skills. So schools campaigners were understandably dismayed when oracy – otherwise known as speaking and listening – did not appear in the interim report of the curriculum review for England headed by Prof Becky Francis. Peter Hyman, the former New Labour adviser who became a