The Clifton Voice

 

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt." Colossians 4:6

At Clifton-upon-Dunsmore C of E Primary School and Pre-School, we believe that every child has a voice that matters.

The Clifton Voice is our whole-school approach to oracy: speaking, listening, thinking and connecting. Spoken language is central to learning, relationships, confidence and character, and every subject gives our children a reason to talk.

We want every child to leave Clifton able to speak with confidence, listen with compassion, think deeply and use their voice responsibly.

With open minds and loving hearts, we will achieve.

Open the sections below to find out more about the Clifton Voice and to read what our pupils and families say about our school.

Our Oracy Policy

Our Clifton Voice policy sets out our vision, the research behind our approach, how oracy is taught from Pre-School to Year 6 and how we assess children's progress.

Clifton Voice Oracy Policy 2026-2027

What is Oracy?

Oracy is the ability to communicate effectively through speaking and listening. At Clifton, we understand oracy in two ways.

Oracy for learning: children use talk to explore ideas, develop vocabulary, rehearse writing, explain mathematical thinking, reason, solve problems and build knowledge together.

Oracy as learning: children are explicitly taught how to speak clearly, listen actively, ask good questions, structure their ideas, use precise vocabulary, present to an audience, debate respectfully and work together.

Oracy is not an extra subject. It is a fundamental part of how children learn, think and relate to one another.

The Clifton Voice Promise

We teach children that their voice is both a gift and a responsibility.

• We speak with courage. We share our ideas even when we are unsure, because mistakes help us learn.

• We listen with kindness. We give others our full attention and show that we value their voices.

• We question with curiosity. We ask questions about ourselves, others, nature, the world, God and beyond.

• We think deeply. We explain our reasoning, give evidence, consider different viewpoints and are prepared to change our minds.

• We act with loving hearts. We use our words to encourage and include, and we speak up when something is wrong.

Our Talk Rules

In every classroom, we will:

1. Listen: Look towards the speaker and listen carefully.

1. Think: Take time to consider what has been said.

1. Respond: Answer or build upon the idea.

1. Respect: Disagree with ideas, not people.

1. Include: Make space for other voices.

1. Improve: Use feedback to develop our communication.

The Four Domains of Oracy

From Pre-School to Year 6, every child develops across four connected areas:

• Physical: volume, clarity, pace, fluency, expression, posture, eye contact and gesture.

• Linguistic: vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, register and subject-specific language.

• Cognitive: reasoning, questioning, explaining, using evidence, evaluating and thinking critically.

• Social and emotional: listening, empathy, collaboration, confidence, resilience and respectful disagreement.

Together, these help our children become confident and compassionate speakers.

Our Shared Language

Adults and children across the school use the same sentence stems to support good talk:

• I agree because... (building on an idea)

• I would like to add... (extending an idea)

• I have a different view because... (disagreeing respectfully)

• Can you explain what you mean? (asking for clarification)

• I used to think..., but now I think... (showing a change in understanding)

• My evidence is... (supporting reasoning)

• I wonder... (showing curiosity)

We also encourage children to "level up" their answers:

• Level 1: I think...

• Level 2: I think... because...

• Level 3: I think... because... For example...

• Level 4: I think... However... Another possibility is...

Don't just say it, explain it! Don't just agree, build on it! Don't just disagree, give a reason!

The Clifton Voice and Our Christian Vision

As a Church of England school, we believe communication is about relationships. Through our Relationship Model, children use their voices to explore their connection with myself, others, nature and the world, and God and beyond.

Talk is also at the heart of our OWS, WOWS and NOWS:

• OWS (moments of challenge): reflecting on times of hurt, sadness or disappointment, and finding the words to express our feelings.

• WOWS (wonder and awe): pausing to notice and wonder at beauty, nature, creativity, science and faith.

• NOWS (our voice today): thinking about how we can help, what we should say and how our voices can make a difference.

Children are encouraged to ask: Are my words kind? Are my words helpful? Are my words truthful? Do my words help others to feel valued?

By the End of Year 6

By the time they leave us, our pupils will be able to:

• Listen carefully, critically and respectfully.

• Speak clearly and confidently.

• Discuss by taking an active and respectful part.

• Reason by explaining, justifying and evaluating ideas.

• Present effectively to different audiences.

• Reflect on how communication affects others.

• Contribute by using their voice positively and responsibly.

A powerful voice is not necessarily the loudest voice. It is thoughtful, purposeful, informed, compassionate, courageous and willing to listen.

Pupil Voice: Autumn 2026 - What's going well at Clifton?

We asked our pupils what they think is going well at our school. Here is what they said:

"It's calmer, with fewer people running around like crazy." - S

"Fewer people are going into out-of-bounds areas." - W

"We are kind to everybody." - F

"The new children are making lots of friends." - Sp

"A lovely school where everyone is kind." - S

"All of the teachers explain lessons really well." - W

"Clubs are good, before and after school." - M

"The teachers are nice and the leadership are welcoming." - J

"We are greeted at the gate by the teachers." - T

Parent Voice: Autumn 2026 - Prospective Parent Tours

During our tours for prospective families, we asked parents for their impressions of our school. Here is what they said:

"The children are always polite and well mannered." - Prospective parent

"The children are all so kind and caring." - Prospective parent

"You can really tell that the children like the school." - Prospective parent

"It's really nice to be shown around by the Year 6 children, so they can share their own experiences of the school." - Prospective parent

 

Parent Voice: You Said, We Did

We listen to our families and act on what they tell us. Here are some of the changes we have made in response to parent feedback.

You said: You wanted the school site to feel safe and secure.
We did: We secured funding through the local authority and installed new perimeter fencing. Parents at our forum told us it makes the school feel safer.

You said: You wanted a smooth start to school for our youngest children.
We did: We brought our pre-school into the school. Parents told us it made their child's first day in Reception much easier, and we see a real difference in how ready our pre-school children are for Reception.

You said: You want to know that bumps and head injuries are taken seriously.
We did: We use MedicalTracker to record every injury and spot patterns. Every head injury is taken seriously, and we always phone home about anything serious.