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Public Speaking should be on every curriculum in the UK
- Leanne Johnson
- Jan 1, 2024
- 1 min read
I was thinking about when I was younger, and how Public Speaking skills would have helped me navigate the school system more easily. I was in year 4, 5 maybe and I was getting unwanted attention from a boy in my school. I was very aware that I didn't have the capability to articulate not only my disgust at his language, but how to articulate to someone like a teacher or a grown up what was happening.
I think that there is a disconnect - especially since Covid - of how we as a species articulate (IN PERSON) how we feel. Online is awesome obviously - but in person communication has really suffered, especially in those students in their formative years.
We need to give students more opportunities to speak and be spoken to - to listen and to feel those nerves when speaking in public.
What do you think?
A really thought-provoking perspective — the idea that public speaking should be part of every curriculum in the UK feels especially relevant today, as strong communication skills are increasingly essential both in education and later in the workplace. Being able to clearly express thoughts, set boundaries, and speak with confidence is something many people only develop much later, despite how fundamental it is to everyday life and personal growth . Creating more opportunities for students to practise speaking in real situations could make a lasting difference in confidence and self-expression, and that kind of gradual engagement, sometimes loosely described in different contexts with phrases like atlantic spins, really highlights how consistency over time helps build meaningful, real-world skills.
As former president for 3 years of my Toastmasters Club in South Africa, I became involved in numerous Youth Leadership programmes at schools where I saw many students grow in their confidence and ability to communicate. It was remarkable and it is something I dream of recreating in the UK.