Over the course of my career at the National Literacy Trust, I’ve had the privilege of leading several programmes that support different aspects of literacy. I began leading school programmes inspiring children to fall in love with reading, later moving into supporting young people with the communications skills needed for the workplace. 

Most recently, I have led the evolution of our brand-new national oracy provision - the Young Voices Programme - something I feel incredibly privileged to be developing. Looking back, each of those roles has taught me something different. Together, they’ve led me to a much broader understanding of literacy. 

The meaning of literacy is evolving. The role it now plays in society and people’s lives, especially in an increasingly complex, social, political and technological world, has perhaps never been more important. 

Reading remains fundamental. It sparks ideas, encourages curiosity, builds knowledge and develops empathy. Encouragingly, our latest research shows there has been a modest rise in reading engagement, but we know that there is still a long way to go.

The National Year of Reading is an important and timely reminder of why reading matters. In my time leading our reading for enjoyment programmes, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of reading, the pure joy and excitement of a child receiving their first book, one that reflects their interests and personal experiences. But the story doesn’t end when a young person finishes the final pages. 

The challenge goes beyond simply accessing information, building knowledge or discovering new ideas. In a world increasingly dominated by social media, information overload, misinformation, AI-generated content and competing viewpoints, it’s never been more important to make space to discuss, debate, question and challenge the stories and information we consume and form our own opinions. Young people are not lacking in information to consume; the challenge is having the skills and confidence to interrogate and make sense of it.

Oracy isn’t just about expressing an idea or opinion or presenting in front of an audience. It’s about listening to others, asking questions, respectfully disagreeing with others and collaborating. Crucially, oracy doesn’t simply build on reading; it helps lay the foundations for literacy, shaping language, understanding and comprehension from a young age. It strengthens our engagement with reading, deepens our understanding, develops critical thinking and helps us navigate misinformation. 

Reading may introduce us to an idea or concept, but oracy helps us explore, test and communicate those ideas, turning what we read and think into a meaningful contribution or action. Developing the Young Voices Programme has shown me how oracy can become the bridge between literacy and participation, and the skill that helps us feel connected and engaged with the world around us. 

communication skills in the workplace, but communication skills go much further than just helping young people to get a job. It’s about helping them to engage confidently in education, work and society. Nearly 1 million young people are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). It can be tempting to focus on employability skills, such as interview techniques, but they aren’t enough on their own. 

Before a young person can succeed in a job interview, they need to believe their ideas are worth sharing. Before they apply for a job, they need to feel that they have something valuable to contribute. We need to give young people the tools and confidence to feel that their voices matter, to engage in their learning, connect with their communities and believe in a positive future for themselves. If we don’t do this first, how can we expect them to see themselves in the workplace at all?  

In a world that is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate, we use oracy to develop the confidence, communication skills, and agency that children and young people need to participate fully in education, employment, civic and democratic life. If we are to hope for stronger communities, economic growth and a more engaged democracy, we must raise the next generation of young people who can think critically and independently, communicate effectively and engage respectfully with others.

Encouragingly, oracy is rising up the national agenda and increasingly reflected in national conversations about education. The Education Secretary, Lucy Powell MP, has advocated for “strong oracy and speaking skills” in her vision for education and skills reform, building on the government’s existing commitment to give oracy more equal weighting alongside reading and writing in its national curriculum and assessment reforms, which include plans to introduce a national oracy framework and a combined reading, writing and oracy framework.

This is an important step forward in recognising the value of effective oracy provision, not only for children’s learning and development, but also in widening access to arts, culture, sport and supporting positive participation in work and society.  

Reading will always remain fundamental, but to ensure every child leaves school with the literacy skills, confidence and creativity to thrive, we must also provide opportunities for them to interrogate information, question, challenge, discuss and make sense of the world around them. We must then provide opportunities for them to express those ideas and contribute meaningfully through action. Through our own research and work with schools, families and communities, we see firsthand the impact these skills can have every day. 

In my own journey, from inspiring a love of reading, to developing young people’s literacy skills for the workplace and now Young Voices, this has perhaps been one of my biggest learnings: literacy isn't just about discovering new ideas, it's about giving young people the confidence to contribute their own. Reading, communication, critical thinking and participation are all part of the same journey and helping young people develop those skills is one of the most important investments we can make in their futures.