Speak for Success
Introducing our new schools programme
Speak for Success will empower young people aged 7 to 11 with essential oracy skills and confidence, preparing them to excel in any career path, including law.
Why is the Speak for Success programme important?
Research shows that young people with poor communications skills are less likely to find employment and more likely to suffer from mental health difficulties. The Department for Education says that 1 in 5 children are not at the expected level for communication and language by the end of their first year at school. We also know that children as young as 5 years old develop stereotypes about careers.
Oracy is an important part of the national curriculum in England and Wales, teaching children to develop their spoken language skills to communicate effectively. As barristers, you demonstrate excellence in these skills in your daily lives – whether that’s forming a narrative, delivering well-structured arguments or using evidence and persuasive reasoning.
Speak for Success will empower young people aged 7 to 11 with essential oracy skills and confidence, preparing them to excel in any career path, including law.
That’s why we’re working with Hark, an educational consultancy, to develop a primary school programme (ages 7 to 11) to develop oracy skills and raise awareness of what barristers do and careers in law. The project aims are to:
- Empower 7 to 11 year olds with oral skills and confidence to excel in law or any other career
- Help children find their voice, express themselves clearly and build a foundation for lifelong success
The Speak for Success programme
Speak for Success is designed in partnership with the Inns of Court. It will be delivered by teachers, potentially with support from barrister volunteers.
We're currently developing content for the programme, thank you to all the barristers who have submitted responses to support with this. We’re planning to deliver the first pilot lesson in June 2025.
This programme is supported by funding from The Council of the Inns of Court
